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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



MEMOIR 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON, 



ILLUSTRATING 



THE KEALITY AND POWER OF GODLINESS IN 
CHILDHOOD. 



BY AMBROSE EDSON, 

AUTHOR OP "letters TO TUB CONSCIENCE," 

"the key-stone," etc. 



Approved by tJie Committee of Publication, 



THIRD EDITION, 



BOSTON: 

MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY, 
Depository. No. 13 Cornhill. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in tlie year 1853, 

By CHRISTOPHER C. DEAN, 
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 



PREFACE 



The details of this volume furnish a striking illustra- 
tion of the REALITY and power of godliness ia 
childhood, exhibited in a season of protracted and 
severe suffering, for nearly a year, until it was ter- 
minated by a happy death in the triumphs of faith. 
The compiler has aimed at simplicity and correctness, 
in spreading the facts and incidents of the volume 
before the reader. In some of the conversations of 
this child, her precise language has been given ; and, 
in every instance, the exact thought has been pre- 
served, in language as nearly indenlical as it was 
possible for memory to recall. It must be remarked, 
however, that much which gave a deep interest to 
the occurrences of her last sickness, and the conver- 
sations of her death-bed, cannot be transferred to 
paper. The words may be given ; but ihe expression 
of countenance, the tones of the voice, and the spirit 
of the sufferer, — every thing that gives life and elo- 
quence to the scene, will appear warning. The truth 
of this remark will appear evident, to those who were 
present during some of the scenes described in this 



IV PREFACE. 

volume, which occurred in the last sickness, and on 
the dying bed of the subject of this memoir. They 
may say, with truth, the representation is almost 
incomparably below the reality. Of this, the com- 
piler is sensible. But it is, still, his firm conviction, 
notwithstanding these defects, that the memoir will 
be found of unusual interest. It is not designed ex- 
clusively for any one particular class of persons ; but 
it is hoped that it may be found of practical utility 
to all. 



MEMOIR 



CHARLOTTE IIAMILTOK 



CHAPTER I. 

Charlotte Hamilton, the subject of the following 
memoir, was the second daughter of Horatio Asa 
Hamilton, M. D., of Somers, Connecticut, and 
was born July 7th, 1825. She was early conse- 
crated to God, by her parents, to be trained up 
for his service and kingdom. 

When about five months old, she was attacked 
with the whooping-cough, which she had to a 
degree of unusual severity. From the shock 
given to her constitution at this time, she never 
entirely recovered. It was too much for her 
slender frame, at such a tender age. This was 
evident through the years of infancy, and in those 

of childhood, until her death. Although she 
1* 



MEMOIR OF 
Traits of character. 

never complained, when it was possible to conceal 
any little illness she might feel, still it was obvi- 
ous that she could bear but little, compared with 
ordinary children of her age. And when she 
voluntarily acknowledged that she was unwell, 
her friends knew that she must be sick ; as she 
never otherwise complained. 

There are several traits which marked the 
character of this child, which it may be proper, 
in this place, to notice. 

1. Her natural temper was uncommonly ami- 
able. She seldom manifested the least irritation 
or fretfidness^ under any of the little crosses 
which often disturb the feelings of almost all 
children of such an age. Hence she was never 
involved in the little broils and feuds of children, 
in which some of her companions were sometimes 
found. Kindness marked her treatment of oth- 
ers; and she usually experienced kindness in 
return. The mildness and pleasantness of her 
temper did much to make her a favorite in the 
circle of her relatives and intimate friends. 

2. Connected with her natural amiableness of 
temper, Charlotte was characterized by a remark- 
able degree of equanimity^ or that calm temper, 
or firmness of mind, which is not easily elevated 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 
Thunder shower. IMilitary display. 

or depressed. When quite young, during some 
severe thunder showers, when her older sister was 
trembling and shrieking at almost every peal of 
thunder, or flash of lightning, and in a perfect 
agony of fear, Charlotte would often say to her 
sister, in her deliberate way of speaking, " What 
good does it all do ? Do you think you can stop 
it, Elizabeth ?" 

When she was about five years old, the regi- 
ment met in the town, and paraded in the street 
near her father's house. Most children would 
have had their interests and feelings entirely en- 
grossed by such a military display. But neither 
the equipage, music, nor discharge of fire-arms, 
aff'ected Charlotte. She had obtained some book 
in which she felt interested, and she continued to 
read, nearly the whole time, without apparently 
taking any notice of what was passing without. 
Even when her companions were ready to shriek 
at every burst of thunder from the military ranks, 
Charlotte continued her reading still ! 

When she was about two years old, the follow- 
ing circumstances occurred. During a very severe 
thunder shower, when there was not an individual 
in the room beside, the mother, seated in her 
chair, was holding this child in her arms. The 



MEMOIR OF 
Incident. Another irait. 

elements seemed thrown into one wild and furious 
conflict. The winds raged — the lightnings blazed 
— and peal after peal of thunder seemed almost 
to rend the vault of heaven. At length there 
came one tremendous crash, which seemed, at the 
instant, to have rent the house into a thousand 
fragments ; at this instant, little Charlotte sprang 
from her mother's arms, at a single bound, upon 
the floor, and looking round, exclaimed, " Why, 
where is God ? He is right here : he sees us ; 
but we can't see him, can we, 'ma ?" 

3. Another trait of character in this child, was 
an unusually inquiring turn of mind. This was 
manifested in a thousand different instances, in 
relation to her studies, to what she might happen 
to read, or hear in conversation. She always 
wished to know the reason of the thing, in regard 
to any subject which attracted her attention ; and 
she would not generally be satisfied, unless she 
could get at this. This trait she carried with her 
into her Sabbath school exercises ; and her teach- 
er is said to have frequently remarked, that 
Charlotte Hamilton caused her more difficulty 
and labor, in consequence of the questions she 
would ask, on the subject of her lesson, than all 
the rest of. her class ; and that often she was 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 

Sabbath school. Adam and Eve. 

obliged to defer an answer to questions asked, 
until a future time, that she might have an oppor- 
tunity of examining the point, and gaining further 
information. The necessity for this, resulted from 
the fact, that these questions were very far from 
being of a common-place character ; or such as 
would be suggested by a superficial glance at the 
subject. I will mention but a single example in 
illustration of the point under consideration. She 
had one day been committing to memory her 
Sabbath school lesson, in preparation for the Sab- 
bath. The lesson embraced the description of 
the apostacy of man, as contained in Genesis. 
While reciting the lesson to a member of the 
family at home, she inquired, with an arch kind 
of expression, " I wonder what God would have 
done with Eve, if Adam had not eaten the for- 
bidden fruit ?" This circumstance is mentioned, 
not because there is any intrinsic importance in 
the question itself, but merely as exhibiting the 
fact that, for a mere child, she thought^ emphati- 
cally, of subjects which engaged her attention ; 
and was ready to pry into relations and conse- 
quences, which would not ordinarily be noticed, 
or thought of, by multitudes of even an advanced 



10 MEMOIR OF 

Strict regard to truth. 

4. Another circumstance deserving notice in 
the character of this child, was a strict regard to 
truth. Whenever questioned with regard to what 
she had done, at any time, there was never any 
attempt to disguise or conceal the exact truth, 
however much she might feel that she was impli- 
cated by it ; or whatever the anticipated conse- 
quences might be to her. If she said that a thing 
was^ or was not so — the assertion always had the 
entire confidence of her parents : and never, in a 
single instance, to their recollection, did they 
find that confidence misplaced, after she was old 
enough to understand any thing about what truth 
was. Have the little children who read or hear 
these pages, never told a wrong story to their 
parents, or others ? I have known some children 
tell wrong stories, and when this was known, 
people had no confidence in any thing which they 
said; they were not believed, even when they 
spake the truth. And this will always be the 
case with those, who, it is known, do not always 
speak the truth. And in addition to this, it is 
very wicked to tell such stories. God is ofi'ended 
by it, and he has said in his word, that " all 
liars shall have their part in the lake which burn- 
eth with fire and brimstone, which is the second 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON'. 11 

Obedience in parents. Her mother's charge. 

death." I hope, therefore, dear children, that 
jou will, all of you, imitate the conduct of little 
Charlotte ; and when you have done wrong, 
acknowledge the whole truth about it, and thus 
your parents will always have confidence in what 
you say, and you will not ofi'end God. 

5. Another trait in Charlotte's character, was 
strict obedience to her parents. \\Tienever she 
was told to do a thing, or was prohibited from 
doing it, all that was necessary to ensure obedi- 
ence was, to hear and understand the command 
or prohibition. When this was done, her parents 
had no occasion to doubt, in regard to the result. 
And they have frequently said, they did not 
recollect the instance in which she had willfully 
disobeyed them, since she was old enough to un- 
derstand the obligation of a command. Obedience 
was always a matter of principle and conscience 
with her, even from her earliest years. I will 
state a single circumstance in illustration of this. 
When she was quite young, her mother one day 
went away in the afternoon, and left her, with an 
older sister, in the care of the house, with the 
charge to both, not to leave it until she returned. 
But after the mother had been gone a little while, 
Louisa K., a very intimate companion of Char- 



12 MEMOIR OF 

Sister's consent. Her estimate of her act. 

lotte, came in, to have her go home with her to 
play. *' No," said Charlotte, " I cannot go, for 
mother told us we must not leave the house while 
she was absent." But her older sister told her 
she might go home with Louisa, and play a little 
while, and that she would remain and take care 
of the house. With this permission, Charlotte 
went, but soon returned ; and in reply to the ques- 
tion of her siste.r, why she had come back so soon, 
said, " Ma did not give me any liberty to go ; I 
know it was wrong to go. I could not enjoy myself 
any, while I was there, and I would not stay." 

This is no more than a fair specimen of her 
scrupulous, conscientious regard to the commands 
of her parents. In this instance, she had not only 
the consent, but the advice of an older sister, in 
relation to her doing as she did, without which 
she would not have thought, for a moment, of 
yielding to the solicitation of her little friend. 
But when she came to think more of it, all these 
mitigating circumstances did not prevent what 
she had done from being disobedience to her moth- 
er's direction, in her estimation. Hence she would 
not stay ; and on her mother's return, Charlotte 
voluntarily told her what she had done, and ex- 
pressed her sorrow for it. But the whole occur- 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 13 

Prayer for a little child. 

rence had passed from the mother's recollection, 
and never would have been recalled, had it not 
been done by this dear child on her dying bed, as 
I shall have occasion hereafter to state. And 
this was the 07ily instance of disobedience, even 
of such a character, which she, or her parents, 
could recollect. Children, can your parents say 
as much as this of you ? 

After the death of Charlotte, among the choice 
papers which she had laid away, were found the 
following stanzas, cut from some newspaper, at 
how early an age is imknown. They are very 
suitable for every little child to commit to mem- 
ory, who reads this volume, or hears it read. 
And if, when he repeats them night or morning, 
or at any other time, he really desires the thing 
mentioned in the different stanzas, and desires 
that the Saviour would grant them, it will be a 

PRAYER. 

PRAYER FOR A LITTLE CHILD. 

" Dear Jesus, let an infant claim 
The favor to adore thy name ; 
Thou wast so meek, that babes might be 
Encouraged to draw near to thee. 
2 



14 MEMOIR OF 



Stanzas. 

My gracious Saviour, I believe 
Thou canst a little child receive ; 
Thy tender love for us is free — 
And why not iove poor sinful me ? 

Then to a child, dear Lord, impart 
A humble, meek, and lowly heart ; 
0, cleanse me by thy precious blood, 
And fill me with the love of God. 

Though oft I sin, yet save me still, 
And make me love thy sacred will ; 
Each day prepare me by thy grace, 
To meet thee, and behold thy face." 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 15 

One thing Ihou lackest. 



CHAPTER II. 

In the preceding chapter, I have mentioned a few 
traits in the character of Charlotte Hamilton. 
And I wish it distinctly to be understood that 
these traits existed before she ever indulged the 
hope that she knew any thing about experimental 
piety. And all my young friends will conclude 
that they made her a pleasant child. But 0, if 
she had had nothing more than these, she could 
never have died so happy, so triumphant a death 
as she did. 

You recollect that a certain young man once 
came to Christ, and he had so many amiable traits 
of character, that it is said Christ looked on him 
and laved him. But notwithstanding all this, 
Christ kindly and faithfully assured him, " One 
thing thou lackest." This one thing was piety. 
And it was enough to shut him out of heaven. 
And it is just so with every child, as well as 
adult. Let their natural dispositions and conduct 
be ever so amiable, unless their hearts are right 



16 MEMOIR OF 

How C. felt. Commencement of the interest. 

in the sight of God, they will not be prepared for 
the happiness of heaven. I wish all my young 
readers would feel this. They may have a great 
many things to make them lovely in the eyes of 
men, while it may be said, in relation to a most 
important qualification, " One thing thou lack- 
est." 

Charlotte was led to feel this. Blameless as 
was her external conduct, when she obtained a 
correct view of her own heart, as compared with 
God's character and requirements, she felt con- 
scious that she was a sinner, and was neither pre- 
pared to live, nor to die. And the experience of 
every real Christian, whether young or old, cor- 
responds with this. There must be a great change 
in the feeling and temper of their hearts, to pre- 
pare them for the scenes of a dying hour, and of 
the judgment day. 

This change Charlotte gave evidence of expe- 
riencing, in the autumn of 1833. It was in a 
time of unusual religious interest among the chil- 
dren in Somers, and which was confined to them. 
The first of these was a little boy about twelve 
years of age, who, after several days of anxiety 
and distress, found peace in believing. The seri- 
ousness began to spread from child to child in the 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 17 

Charlotte did not intend to be eeriona. 

neighborhood, until from fifteen to sixteen chil- 
dren, from seven to twelve years of age, indulged 
the hope of having passed from death unto life. 
Among some of the earlier of these, was an older 
sister of Charlotte. The knowledge of this, evi- 
dently had an effect on her mind. But it was 
such an effect as is often witnessed among older 
persons, when the carnal mind is roused up to 
put on a show of thoughtlessness and indifference, 
not commonly exhibited. This was the case with 
Charlotte. She did not intend, at first, to be 
serious, or give her attention to the subject of her 
soul's concerns. It is not known that she did, or 
said any thing to oppose the work ; still she was 
evidently more light and trifling than usual ; 
which led her friends to remark that they never 
knew Charlotte appear half as rude before, as she 
did now. But she could not effectually shake off 
the subject in this way. The Spirit had evidently 
commenced a work of grace in her heart. At 
this time, one or two of her young companions, 
who had just begun to rejoice in the love of God, 
called in to see Charlotte and her sister, and the 
time was spent in their chamber. Charlotte 
could not but notice the evident change in their 
feelings and conversation, and the first prominent 

2* 



18 MEMOIR OF 

Faithful companions. The change. 

thought, which seemed to cut to the heart was, 
*' all my young companions are pressing into the 
kingdom, and I am to be left behind." To this 
thought she could not submit. She had accompa- 
nied them to the point where their paths seemed 
now to separate, and were leading to terminations 
as far asunder as hell and heaven. Must she 
now make up her mind to have a separation com- 
mence which should widen and widen through 
eternity ? This was more than she could endure. 
Her companions were faithful to her. They 
urged, and warned, and entreated ; and she melt- 
ed into tears. In this state of feeling, they left 
her, sometime in the afternoon of Saturday. Her 
parents witnessed the change in her appearance, 
but nothing further was said to her. She sought 
to be alone, with her Bible ; and this was as good 
an instructor as she could have. The struggle 
was a severe one ; but on the next morning, peace 
dawned upon her soul. There was no ecstasy of 
joy in her feelings, but like the dawning light of 
that Sabbath morning, hope brightened and 
brightened into a perfect sunshine upon her soul. 
On the evening of this day, her mother inquired 
relative to her feelings, and found her in a very 
happy frame of mind, and indulging a very de- 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 19 

Precious truth discovered. 



cided hope of having submitted her heart to Grod. 
" This day," said she, " has been the happiest 
Sabbath which I have ever spent." The preach- 
ing appeared so different — the singing different — 
the Sabbath school exercises different. Indeed, 
old things seemed to have been done away, and 
all things to have become new. 

Her mother inquired how she felt, before she 
thought she submitted to God ? She said she 
thought she was going to be deserted by all her 
young companions, and she felt alarmed at first ; 
that afterwards she tried to pray ; but the more 
she tried, the more she felt distressed. It seem- 
ed as though she could see Christ ; but he was a 
great way off, and did not try to relieve, or help 
her. And while she was trying to pray, she said 
He did not seem to notice her ; and she thought 
he would let her perish there. " But," added 
she, with a countenance beaming with a purer joy 
than she had ever felt before, and eyes filled with 
tears, " I found that just as soon as I was ready 

TO GIVE UP MY HEART, HE WAS READY TO RECEIVE 
ME." 

Here is a truth, traced as with a pencil of 
light, upon the whole plan of redeeming mercy. 
It accords with the experience of every redeemed 



20 MEMOIR OF 

The difficulty universal 

sinner in heaven and on earth. And it ouojht to 
be written as with the point of a diamond, upon 
every heart still unreconciled to God. The ob- 
stacle that prevents any sinner who hears the 
gospel, from an immediate compliance with the 
terms of mercy, is not found in God. It is in the 
sinner, and in the sinner alone. " He may frame 
a thousand apologies and pleas for delay in yield- 
ing up the controversy with God ; but the undis- 
guised truth is, he is not willing to yield. This 
prevents his immediate submission to God ; this^ 
if continued, will assuredly shut him out of 
heaven. 

Look, my dear friends, at the simple experi- 
ence of this mere child. The assertion was not 
dictated by any philosophical speculation of either 
old-school or new-school theology ; it comes from 
a child of eight years of age, taught by the Spirit, 
just emancipated from the bondage of sin, and be- 
ginning to taste of the love of God. She felt 
herself forsaken by her young companions, who 
were pressing into the kingdom of God ; and when 
she came to look to her Saviour and attempted 
to pray, as a substitute for giving up the contro- 
versy with God, he stood a * great way oflF. And 
he always does so. The sinner never gains one 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 21 

Directing sinners. 



approving smile from Him, until he yields up the 
controversy. He may read the Bible, attempt to 
pray, visit the sanctuary of God, and perform 
every other external duty which God demands ; 
but he will be like the woman who had spent all 
her living upon physicians, and was continually 
growing worse, instead of better. But no sooner 
is the point of controversy yielded by the sinner, 
no sooner is he willing to let go his hold on sin, 
or the world, or self, and just drop into the Sav- 
iour's arms, than he finds the Saviour's arms 
extended to receive him. " Just as soon as I was 
ready to give up," said this dear child, " he was 
ready to receive me." 

If the reader has any thing to do in directing 
sinners in this most interesting and critical part 
of the probationary existence, or is in a situation 
in which the inquiry may be made of him, " what 
must I do to be saved ?" permit me to request you 
to pause and settle an important principle on the 
spot; and that is, — is it wise, or benevolent, or 
safe, to deviate from the plain, unambiguous 
answer to this inquiry, which God has sanctioned 
in his word ? In not a single instance will you 
find any countenance to this system of false phi- 
lanthropy which puts the sinner upon the perform- 



22 MEMOIR OF 

Bible direciion, plain. 



ance of any round of external duties, to induce 
God to have mercy upon him. But the simple 
urgent demand is, " repent — believe." 

The single point to which the sinner is urged, 
is the immediate laying down of the weapons of 
his rebellion, and submission of his heart to God. 
Until he does this, he is waging a fearful, and 
most unequal controversy with his Maker ; and 
is not in a condition to receive pardon. Turn off 
the attention of the sinner, therefore, from the 
simple, single point of immediate submission to 
God, to any other subject in the universe, how- 
ever important or interesting, under other circum- 
stances, and you throw an obstacle in the way, 
which will retard, if not prevent his conversion. 
Let him understand, on the contrary, that neither 
reading, praying, nor any thing which he can do, 
has any tendency to reconcile God to him, while 
he holds back his heart : 

For God abhors the sacrifice, 
Where not the heart is found. 

Turn which way he will — do what he will — it 
is all sin, all rebellion, until he drops his weap- 
ons, and yields. The sooner this is understood 
and felt, the shorter, ordinarily, will be the sea- 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 23 

Whai the Spirit uraes. Visit to U)usid K. 

son of protracted anguish, under a resistance to 
the demand of God for immediate repentance ; 
and the sooner, it may be hoped, the controversy 
will be settled. The Spirit always presses to this 
point, and every word of instruction and direc- 
tion should bear upon the same. We owe it to 
God, and the welfare of souls, to be faithful 
here. 

The next day after Charlotte hopefully sub- 
mitted her heart to God, she called to see Louisa 
K., one of her most intimate little companions, for 
the purpose of urging upon her attention the sub- 
ject of religion. These two children were nearly 
of the same age; of dispositions very similar, and 
on terms of unusual intimacy. When, therefore, 
Charlotte began to rejoice in the love of God, she 
felt a deep interest that Louisa should share in 
the same happiness which she had found. And 
this was a deeply interesting meeting. Charlotte 
was faithful ; and from Louisa it was afterwards 
ascertained that she read the Bible to her ; urged 
her to repent : and to repent immediately, and 
prayed with her. And so pressing was she on 
this errand of love, that she had satisfactory evi- 
dence that it was not without efifect. Louisa 
became anxious for the salvatiou of her soul, and 



24 MEMOIR OP 

Louisa's death. Effect on Charlotte's mind. 

after some time indulged a trembling hope that 
she had made her peace with God. Thus they 
were more than ever united, and were often to- 
gether, engaged in prayer, reading, and conversa- 
tion. 

But Louisa's course was short. Early in July, 
1834, she was seized with a violent inflammatory 
disease, which, in despite of all the medical aid 
which could be employed, in four days terminated 
her life. During her sickness, such was its vio- 
lence, and the excruciating pain experienced, that 
she was unable to converse but very little. She 
however, expressed a cheerful resignation to the 
will of God, in view of approaching death. She 
had not made a public profession of her faith in 
Christ ; but Charlotte often remarked, that " al- 
though Louisa did not say so much about her feel- 
ings as some, she gave as good evidence as many, 
that she was a Christian." This death seemed to 
have a great effect upon Charlotte's feelings. Em- 
phatically a little *' lover and friend was taken 
from her," and she mourned sincerely and heartily 
her own loss. At the funeral she was deeply 
affected; and the day following, she went in to 
comfort the mother of her little friend ; while it 
seemed as though her own heart was ready to 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 25 

Her Religion, ils character. 

burst with anguish. But this death was evidently 
sanctified to her, in the deepening and purifying 
of her own piety, and in preparing her, in a 
measure, for the scene of sufferings upon which 
she was soon to enter. 

From the time she experienced religion to the 
commencement of her sickness, Charlotte ap- 
peared well. On account of her own modest, 
retiring habits, she did not attract as much notice, 
as others of a different natural temperament. 
The character of her mind, or the excellence and 
depth of her piety, could not be known, but by a 
most intimate acquaintance. Religion, with her, 
was not like the blazing of a meteor^ but like a 
steady and increasing light ; not like the rushing 
of a cataract, but like a peaceful stream, deepen- 
ing and widening in its course. 

It is not designed to be intimated that during 
the year subsequent to the time she professed to 
indulge a hope, that she never talked and acted 
like a child. It is not the province of religion to 
change children into men^ any more than it is to 
change men into angels. The piety which she 
exhibited, was the ipieij of childhood, as consistent 
and uniform as could be expected from one of 
that age, without being marked by any thing so 



26 MEMOIR OF 

How much she loved the Bible. 

special in its character, as to attract the particular 
attention of others. 

During this year, however, Charlotte took a 
very deep interest in the exercises of the Sabbath 
school, and was always a constant and interested 
attendant, while her health permitted. And long 
after she was confined to the house, by her lame- 
ness, she continued still to get her Sabbath school 
lesson regularly, that she might keep up with her 
class. 

Another circumstance may also be noticed 
relative to this period. She was a most devoted 
and constant student of the Bible. This was a 
daily employment. She loved the book of God, 
and seemed to value its perusal more than her 
daily food. If she could find any time, she was 
sure to be in her chamber, and her Bible was her 
companion. There she could go to the very foun- 
tain of truth, and she drank deeply too. She was 
frequently thus employed by the half day together. 
The nature of her employment was not exactly 
known at the time, and when gently reproved for 
her long absence, she would reply, " Why, 'ma, I 
havn't been gone but a few minutes, have I ? " 

" Yes, my child, you have been gone three or 
four hours, and I have wanted you very much," 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 27 

Past circumstances. 

On her dying bed, Charlotte referring to these 
circumstances, told her mother that often she was 
not aware of having been gone but a few minutes ; 
so imperceptibly did time pass away, when thus 
employed. It was emphatically her " meat and 
drink." 

To this cause, unquestionably, is to be traced 
much of her uncommon growth in piety, and the 
ripeness for heaven, afterwards exhibited in her 
protracted sickness, and in the near view of 
death. The language of her heart and practice 
was, — 

how I love thy holy law, 

*Tis daily my delioht ; 
And thence my meditations draw 

Divine advice by night. 



28 MEMOIR OF 

Interesting period. Her illness. 



CHAPTER III. 

We are now approacliing a very interesting period 
in the history of this dear child — the commence- 
ment of that illness which terminated her life. 

It has been previously remarked that her con- 
stitution had received a severe shock by the 
whooping cough, which she had while an infant. 
In addition to this, there was a scrofulous state of 
the system, which was frequently manifesting 
itself in symptoms which led her father to feel 
satisfied that her life would probably be a short 
one. And, although she was scarcely ever heard 
to complain, she told her mother, some time before 
she died, that she " covld not rememJber the time 
when she felt well all day^ Several times, her 
lungs appeared so much aiTected as to lead to the 
apprehension that she would go into an immediate 
decline, and then she would obtain a temporary 
relief. 

But in September, 1834, her scrofulous habit 
assumed a new and decisive form of development. 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 29 

Lameness— how first discovered. 

For several days it had b^en noticed that she 
occasionally seemed to favor one of her limbs in 
walking. Her mother one day said to her, 
" Charlotte, have you been hurting you? " 

" No, ma'm," was the reply. 

" Why then do you go lame ? " 

" Did I go lame ? " 

In this way she diverted attention from herself 
for the time, without directly answering the ques-. 
tion. But the difficulty could not long be con- 
cealed. She suffered so much pain that an aspect 
of sadness was thrown over her countenance ; and 
one day her sister followed her out, and said, 
" Now, Charlotte, you must tell me what the 
matter is. You know I always tell you, if any 
thing is the matter with me ; and you must let 
me know." Charlotte hesitated — but her sister 
urged. Still, she would not disclose the fact, 
until she had obtained a promise from her sister, 
that she would not tell her parents. She then, as 
the tears flowed down her cheeks, showed her her 
limb — the left knee' having swelled nearly a third 
larger than its ordinary size. Elizabeth ex- 
claimed, " AMiy, Charlotte ! what is the matter ? 
I must tell mother," and she sprang into the 
house. " Mother, I have promised I would not 

3* 



30 MEMOIR OF 

Her father's reproof. The disease. 

tell you about Charlotte, but I must ; " and then 
she disclosed the fact. All were surprised and 
astonished that this child could have borne as 
much as she must have borne, at this time, and 
yet keep the cause concealed. But it was char- 
acteristic of her, never to complain of illness, 
while it was possible to avoid it. In this case her 
father told her she did very wrong ; she ought to 
have made it known before ; and that the neglect 
might now cost her, her limb if not her life. 
Charlotte was afterwards sensible that she had not 
done right, in concealing the cause of her suiGfer- 
ings, and expressed her sorrow for it. She had, 
indeed, more than a week previous, divulged the 
fact to a little cousin, younger than herself, but 
not without a pledge that " she would tell nobody 
of it ; " which was fully kept. 

The disease, as now decidedly developed, was a 
" scrofulous white swelling ^''^ and its location in 
that particular part, was probably occasioned by 
an injury received on that joint, several weeks 
previous, by a fall ; but it had not been thought 
of, by her friends, after its first occurrence, until 
this unexpected disclosure. 

^ The father and grandfather of this child having 
long been in an extensive medical practice, every 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 31 

Her father's frankness. 

thing was done to check the progress of this obsti- 
nate malady, and eradicate it from the system, 
which seemed to promise any reasonable success. 
And the alternations of hope and fear, in regard 
to a favorable result, succeeded each other for 
months afterward, as old symptoms were modified, 
or new ones made their appearance. 

It ought, in this place, to be remarked, that 
from the very commencement, nothing was con- 
cealed from Charlotte, in regard to the real and 
threatening character of her disorder. Her father 
frankly and calmly stated the whole to her, and 
then placed in her hands books which treated on 
the subject ; that she might have a full and fair 
view of her situation and prospects. That he did 
thus, I presume he never found one moment's 
cause to regret. It was honest, and at the same 
time kind dealing. But it is a notorious fact, 
that there are some of the profession, against 
whom the charge of honesty and frankness^ in re- 
gard to this point, cannot with truth be made. It 
seems to be assumed as an established principle, 
that deception is right, if by it, a good result may 
be anticipated. And hence patients have often 
been assured that they were in no danger, or were 
doing well, until almost the very last moment of 



MEMOIR OF 

Last use of the limb. 



life; and then life and hope have been extin- 
guished together, and the soul is, perhaps, ushered, 
unprepared, into eternity. Such a course is not 
sanctioned by any principle of morality, benevo- 
lence, or religion. And the account for it, which 
must be rendered to God, for deeply participating 
in the ruin of souls, must be a most fearfully 
solemn one. And there is no necessity for it. 
The whole truth may be disclosed by a judicious 
physician, without any essential injurious effects ; 
while hope may be encouraged, so far as ground 
for it exists. There are some who are known to 
be candid and honesty in regard to this point, and 
they will be deservedly respected. Would that 
the number were greatly increased. 

Being introduced, at once, into a full know- 
ledge in regard to her disease, and the possible 
unfavorable issue to which it might lead, Char- 
lotte began to fix her mind more intently on the 
great subject of her spiritual interests and rela- 
tions. The second day of October, 1834, was the 
last time she ever attempted to bear her weight 
on that limb. She was now, therefore, entirely 
confined ; and as she had entered a school of dis- 
cipline, hitherto unexpected to her, she soon gave 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON, 33 

Sianzaa. Her desire. 

manifest evidence that she was profiting by the 
lessons she was receiving. 

The following stanzas constitute one of her 
favorite hymns, and express the uniform prayer 
of her happy heart. 

Father, whatever of earthly bliss 

Thy sovereign will denies, 
Accepted at thy throne of grace 

Let this petition rise ; 

Give me a calm and thankful heart, 

From every murmur free ; 
The blessings of thy grace impart, 

And make me live to thee. 

0, let the hope that I am thine, 

My life and death attend ; — 
Thy presence through my journey shine, 

And crown my journey's end. 

But it is not pretended, nor could it be ex- 
pected, that a child nine years of age would, 
immediately, give up all expectation, or desire of 
recovery. Her attachments were strong, and 
she had friends on whom she was justified in 
placing them ; not merely among her relatives, 
but among those with whom she had taken sweet 
counsel, since she thought the love of God had 



34 MEMOIR OF 

Bright prospects darkened. Falling tears. 

been shed abroad in her own heart. These she 
loved to visit. To her Sabbath school, too. she 
was much attached; and in the studies of her 
week day school she took a great degree of 
interest. Connected with these specifications, 
there are a thousand other things in the realities 
and anticipations of life, which, to a child, could 
not be given up, without a struggle. Just sup- 
pose that these were all spread out before the 
eyes of this dear child ; and, as she gazes for a 
moment upon the brightness and loveliness of the 
scene, a dark cloud arises, and conceals or anni- 
hilates the whole. Would not childhood be 
likely to feel ? Yes, Charlotte felt. And though 
not a syllable of murmur or discontent ever 
escaped from her lips, yet often had she been seen 
sitting in a deep study, with her eye fixed upon 
some object, and the tears falling rapidly^ from 
her cheek, unconscious that she was noticed ; and 
when the inquiry was made, " What is the matter^ 
Charlotte ? " she would immediately wipe away 
her tears, put on a smile, and reply, "0, nothing, 
nothing.'^ Such occurrences were frequent in the 
early part of her sickness ; and, although the par- 
ticular topic which was engaging her thought, at 
such times, is not known, it is evident that her 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 35 

Inte-^e^stiiig remark. 



feelings were not less tender, or her attachments 
less warm, than others. But these were only 
mcmients of sadness, compared with the uniform 
cheerful and happy frame of feeling which she 
generally evinced. 

Sometime after she was confined to the house, 
she one day said to her mother, " How right it 
does seem, 'ma, that I should be the one to be 
taken sick. Why Arnold (her little brother, 
about five years of age), would keep the house in 
an uproar, if he were confined to it by sickness. 

Sister E never could bear confinement as 

well as I can ; and if you were sick, 'ma, what 
would become of the rest of us ? How much better 
it is for me to be sick, than to have any of the 
rest sick ! " 

This is the substance of what was frequently 
repeated, in the early part of her sickness; and 
it expresses the uniform benevolence and peace- 
ful submission of her subdued and happy heart — 
not an expression dictated by the ripened judg- 
ment^ merely, of an aged Christian ; but coming 
warm, directly from the heart of a mere child, 
whose faith had thus early learned to penetrate 
the cloud which is sometimes round about God, in 
the dispensations of his providence ; and perceive 



36 MEMOIR OF 

Not Affectation. 

a benevolence and wisdom in the rod which, is laid 
upon her. Nor was this any affectation of sub- 
mission, addressed to a minister of the gospel, or 
the occasional visitor, as a kind of set off to her 
own intelligence, or religious character ; but was 
poured into a mother's ear, in the retired privacy 
of the domestic fireside ; and was therefore frank 
and undisguised, — the simple breathing of her 
soul. And on this point, many an older Christian 
might learn a lesson of instruction from this dear 
child ; and if he could always cultivate the same 
temper, he would be better prepared for the vicis- 
situdes of this vale of tears, than he sometimes 
finds himself to be. 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 37 

A noticeable trait. 



CHAPTER IV. 

One very noticeable trait in the character of 
Charlotte, was a disposition to make the best of 
every thing. This will be discoverable in some 
of the illustrations already given ; but is more 
distinctly visible in a multitude of cases which 
might be stated. 

On the day after the annual Thanksgiving,^ 
several of the companions of Charlotte called to 
have her sister E. accompany them in an after- 
noon visit, which they had obtained permission to 
make, at some distance from home, where they ex- 
pected to meet others of their own age. The 
mother of one of these little girls, who felt very 
tenderly for C, charged her daughter not to go 
any farther than Dr. H — 's if Charlotte appeared 
to feel bad, because they were all going away, 
and leave her alone at home. But whether this 
little girl forgot about the charge of her mother, 



* Previous to her death, in 1834, 
4 



38 MEMOIR OP 

Little incident. 

or thought Charlotte would not feel very bad, is 
not known ; she said nothing about the instruction 
she had received, and after getting ready, they all 
went off together, with light and happy hearts, as 
such little girls would be likely to have, on such 
a pleasant occasion. The mother of Charlotte 
watched to see the effect which these circum- 
stances would have on her child, compelled, as 
she was now, to give up many of the scenes of 
enjoyment which were open to others. When 
Charlotte saw them off, with all their buoyancy of 
feeling, she addressed a little cousin who had 
come in to spend the afternoon with her — " Well, 
Amelia, they are gone ; and I suppose they think 
they are as happy as they can be ; but we can be 
as happy as they — can't we?" O how much 
pleasanter was the state of feeling evinced by this 
remark, than is often exhibited by many of riper 
years, when called to practice some trifling self- 
denial! Charlotte was happily learning to say, 
from her own rich experience : 

Why need I go abroad for joy. 
Who have a feast at home. 

At other times she would indulge in a degree 
of pleasantry^ in circumstances, under which 



CUARLOTTE HAMILTON. 39 

Occasional pleasantry. 

others would have been very likely to be repi- 
ning. On account of the exti^eme soreness of her 
limb, — for she could not bend the knee joint at 
all, — she was obliged to lift it with her hands, 
whenever she wished to raise it, or change its 
position. On this account in part, it commonly 
took nearly half an hour, after she commenced 
making preparation, before she could get into her 
little bed in which she slept at this time. At one 
time, when trying to lift her limb into the bed 
with her hands, her mother made some remark 
expressive of sympathy for her, — that she should 
have to suffer so much in moving her limb. Char- 
lotte replied in a very pleasant tone, in substance 
as follows : 

" I do not think I ought to complain, 'ma ; for 
I have lifted this limb na where near as much as 
it has carried me about ; and if I take good care 
of it, perhaps it may carry me about again. Who 
knows ? " 

The following incident occurred in the early 
part of the spring, and is related to show the 
co/isideration which a child could use, in refusing 
to let her thoughts dwell upon privileges or 
favors, from the enjoyment of which, the provi- 
dence of God had cut her off. 



40 MEMOIR OF 

Reply to her sister. 

An uncle of hers, who had for a long time lived 
near by, moved out of the street nearly a quarter 
of a mile. Soon after this, Elizabeth made a call 
upon them in their new residence ; and on her 
return, was expatiating on the delightfulness of 
the walk to her aflBicted and yet patient sister. 
Charlotte replied in a tone of the meekest submis- 
sion ; — " I was thinking to-day, how delightful it 
would be if I could skip along over that pleasant 
walk, to make them a visit ; but, — added she, — I 
put it right out of my mind; because it made me 
feel unhappy to think about it." Could she have 
adopted a wiser course ? And yet how many 
adults even, render themselves, and all around 
them, wretched, by dwelling continually upon 
their little deprivations, which, perhaps, can 
neither be remedied nor removed. Might not 
some such, learn a lesson of practical wisdom 
from the philosophy which was exhibited by this 
child, on this, as well as on a multitude of other 
similar occasions ? It will require some decision 
of character to imitate her conduct; but if no 
possible benefit could be derived from poring over 
an undesirable occurrence, which cannot be altered, 
how much wiser would it be, like Charlotte, " to 
put it right out of the mind." 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 41 



Occasions of gratitude. A habit. 



Nothing could exceed the gratitude which this 
dear child felt, whenever thdeast favor was done 
for her. During the winter of this sickness, her 
mother was frequently obliged to get up during 
the night to wait upon her; but scarcely ever 
without hearing from Charlotte, " I thank you, 
dear mother ; do come here and let me kiss you." 
And sometimes she would add, as her mother was 
recruiting the waning fire on the hearth, " I think, 
'ma, you will not be in danger of forgetting the 
winter of 1835. But 0, if I should ever get 
well, 1 should love to wait on you^ 'ma." 

It was common to hear her speak often of the 
occasions of gratitude which she had, which were 
presented in the occurrences of almost every day. 
And it seemed to have become a hahit with her, 
to be comparing her condition and circumstances 
with those of others, who were less highly favored. 
In this respect, she resembled a godly man who is 
said to have remarked, " that when he had the 
rheumatism^ he thanked Grod that he had not got 
the genu ; and when he had the gout, he thanked 
God that he had not got the gout and the rheuma- 
tism both together.'^ 

One evening, as she was preparing to go to 
bed, substantially the following conversation took 

4* 



42 MEMOIR OP 



Reviews the condition of others. 

place. — " 'Ma, I have been thinking how much 
better off I am, than a great many poor children 
who are sick. Some of them havn't got so com- 
fortable a room and hed as I have got. And some 
of them havn't got any father and mother to take 
care of them, nor scarcely any body else, who 
care much about them. But I have all these. 
And if my 'pa was not a doctor, he could not do 
as much for me as he can now ; and no other one 
would feel so much. And I should do very 
wrong to complain. And some children have to 
be put out ; one in one place, and another in an- 
other, and have no home ; but I have a home to 
stay and be sick in ; and we can all live together. 
0, would it not be very wrong to complain, 'ma ?" 

" Yes, my child, it certainly would. And 
have you ever thought how happy we shall all be, 
when we get home to our heavenly Father's* 
house ? " 

"Indeed, 'ma, I have thought of it a great 
deal." This was pronounced with a countenance 
beaming with a joy that seemed to come from the 
very fountain of bliss. And after a little pause, 
she burst into tears as she added, " And I have 
thought too, 'ma, how I should feel if one — 07dy 
ONE of our family should not be found there ; " 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 43 

An example for others. 

and it was sometime before her feelings could be 
composed. 

"Would it not be well if older Christians, in 
other more responsible situations, would oftener 
ponder the same question, which caused this child 
to feel so deeply ? " How shall I feel if only one 
of my dear children, or brothers and sisters, or 
precious friends, shall not be found in heaven ? " 
When this inquiry is made, then act towards 
them as you will wish you had done, when you 
come to stand at the bar of Christ. If a child of 
nine years of age, felt so deeply on this subject, 
and dwelt upon it so intensely, will not the fact 
rise in the judgment to condemn the apathy of 
multitudes who ought to have taken a deeper 
interest in the conversion of sinners, and to have 
done more to clear their skirts of the blood of 
souls ? 

Charlotte was formerly ardently attached to 
her books, and took a deep interest in her studies 
at school. Perhaps she committed to memory less 
rapidly than some ; but when she had committed 
her lesson, it was there. She understood, and 
retained it. During the last winter, something 
was said at one time about the satisfaction she 
had taken in going to school, and pursuing her 



44 MEMOIR OF 

Success in studies. True joy. 

studies ; and sympathy was expressed for her, in 
being now deprived of these privileges. 

" Yes," said she, " I used to take satisfaction 
then, but I have by no means been destitute of 
enjoyment this winter." Her father was at this 
moment dressing her limb, and although the tears 
were streaming from her eyes, on account of the 
extreme pain she was suffering fi-om this opera- 
tion, still she added with a smile, as she looked 
up to her father, " And I sometimes think that 
with all my pain, I never had so much true joy 
before, as I have had this winter." 

Is there any thing, aside from vital godliness, 
that would produce such "joy," under such cir- 
cumstances ? God had been trying her in the 
furnace^ and the gold seemed to brighten every 
day. He had cut off the streams of earthly com- 
fort ; but in their stead, he opened a channel into 
her soul, for waters from the very river of life ; 
and consolations from the very ocean of his love. 
O, who would not be a Christian on a bed of sick- 
ness and suffering, as well as on a bed of death ? 
God has left the gracious promise, " When thou 
passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; 
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow 
thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 45 

Precious promises. Imiiation of Job. 

shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle 
upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy 
One of Israel, thy Saviour ! " 

The truth of this blessed assurance is often 
verified in the experience of the dear people of 
God ; and is as applicable to a child, as to the 
adult believer; and will lead both to say, though 
stripped of every earthly comfort, " The Lord 
gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be 
the name of the Lord." 

• Charlotte was evidently enabled to adopt the 
language of Job, both in its spirit and letter. She 
felt that there was not only ground for submission^ 
but thankfulTiess, in the most trying dispensations 
of God's hand, in calling her to experience suffer- 
ing, of which, before, she scarcely had any con- 
ception. " I think, 'ma," said she, one night as 
she was preparing to go to bed, which, on account 
of the extreme soreness of her limb, was always a 
tedious operation — " I think, 'ma, I have great 
reason to be thankful for this affliction, for it was 
very much needed." 

" Why do you think so, my child ? " was the 
reply. 

" 0, 'ma, I had got away from God ; and if he 
had not sent this affliction upon me, I don't know 



46 MEMOIR OF 

Affliction needed. 

how far I should have wandered. I used to read 
and pray a great deal, after I thought I experi- 
enced religion ; and I took a great deal of satis- 
faction in it. But for a few weeks before I was 
taken sick, I did not read and pray so much, and 
I did not enjoy so much happiness." 

" But did you really give up reading and pray- 
ing ? " said the mother. 

" 0, NO, 'ma," said she, with some surprise, 
" but I did not read and pray so much as I used 
to do before. And I think I 7ieeded to be cor- 
rected and chastened. And God has done it; 
and he has done it for my good, too, and I feel as 
though I could thank him for it." In such a 
strain as this did she often give vent to the sub- 
dued and chastened feelings of her humbled heart. 
She could not only perceive a justice in the provi- 
dence which had called her to suffer ; but even a 
benevolence in it, which called forth the gratitude 
of her heart ! And this was not the language of 
piety, merely, reiterated in her hearing until she 
had become familiar with it ; and then, in a de- 
gree, extorted from her by, " don't you feel as 
though you could say so and so ? " receiving an 
answer in monosyllables. The subject was intro- 
duced by herself, in almost every instance ; and 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 47 

Strength of feeling and piety. 

the particular topic which she would present, 
seemed to have engaged her very particular atten- 
tion, and been made the subject of deep study. It 
was thus she was prepared to pour forth such a 
strength of feeling and piety, and in language so 
appropriately just and evangelical, and entirely 
unsolicited by her friends, and often to their sur- 
prise, as well as gratification. And when it is 
recollected that, with the preceding suggestions, 
is to be connected the fact that she was a mere 
child, of between nine and ten years of age only, 
the reader may be better prepared to place a 
more correct estimate upon the incidents narrated 
in this little volume ; and to feel that this was 
emphatically a child of grace sanctified through 
the truth, and rapidly preparing for the scenes 
that were before her ; which drew forth the sin- 
cere aspiration of her soul. 

0, for the pinions of a dove. 
To ascend the heavenly road ; 

There shall I share my Saviour's love ; 
There shall I dwell with God. 



48 MEMOIR OP 



Her peculiar trait. 



CHAPTE^R V. 

One trait which may be regarded as peculiar in 
the character of this child, was, that she had 
rather suffer distress, than see her friends suffer 
it. However exaggerating this may appear to 
some, it was undoubtedly the simple fact. And 
it might be illustrated by several examples. I 
will mention only two. 

During the summer previous to the commence- 
ment of Charlotte's lameness, she was affected with 
a severe cough, and her father carried her, her 
older sister, and her brother, to the sea-shore, to 
try the benefit of the sea air upon Charlotte in 
particular. When they returned, Charlotte was 
entirely freed from her cough, while her sister 
coughed badly, although she had nothing of the 
kind before. Soon after this, Charlotte was at 
her grandfather's in Enfield, and her grandmother 
said to her, " Well, Charlotte, I understand you 
left your cough down to the sea-side." 

" Yes, grandma, I got rid of it ; but I don't 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 49 

Her mother's sickness. 

know but I gave it to Elizabeth, for she coughs 
very badly." 

" Well, I suppose you do not care who gets 
your cough, if you get rid of it, Charlotte ? " 

" Yes, grandma, I do ;, for I don't know but I 
should as lief have it, as to have sister Elizabeth 
have it." This was the honest feeling of her 
heart. 

While Charlotte was confined to her room, her 
mother had an attack of fever, and continued 
severely sick for several days. Charlotte watched 
the progress of this fever with much solicitude, 
which she could not avoid expressing in her coun- 
tenance. After the violence of the disease was 
broken, and her mother began to convalesce, 
Charlotte introduced the subject one day, and 
began to tell her mother how much afraid she 
was for some days that she would not get well. 
" 0, mother," said she, " how much you did 
sufi'er ! As much as I have suffered with pain in 
my limb, and from the issues which have been 
made on it, for months past, I should rather 
suffer it all over again, for months to come, than 
to have you so sick again, 'ma." 

" Why Charlotte," said the mother, " you talk 
extravagantly." 



60 MEMOIR OF 

Position. Afflicting appeal. 

" Indeed I should, dear mother ; I would do it 
willingly ; " and this was said in such a tone, and 
with such earnestness of expression in her coun- 
tenance, as to show any one that she was sincere, 
and in earnest, in this expression of her benevo- 
lent heart. 

During this conversation, the mother was sitting 
up in her bed, with her feet drawn partly up, to 
rest her limbs in that position. This was a posi- 
tion, in relation to her diseased limb, which 
Charlotte had not enjoyed for months. The knee 
joint could not be bent at all ; and when the limb 
was moved, it had to be done by lifting it with 
the hand. Charlotte could not help noticing the 
contrast between herself and her mother, in regard 
to the use of her limbs — and • the tears trickled 
down her cheeks, as she added, while thinking of 
the impossibility of that use of her own limb, — 
" but, 'ma, you can draw your feet up in bed, to 
rest your limbs, can't you ? " This was all that 
she could say; and what parent could have 
avoided bursting into tears, with this mother, 
under such a melting, subdued appeal, from a dear 
child, who had never uttered one lisp of complaint 
or murmur, under all the • protracted and severe 
sufferings which she had then endured ? In this 



CHAULOTTE HAMILTON. 51 

A contemplated trial. 

case, she said not one word about herself; it was 
only — " 'Ma, you can draw your feet up in the 
bed to rest your limbs, can't you ? " — and her 
streaming tears told the rest. But there was an 
eloquence in them, which would thrill any heart 
less hard than adamant. ^ ^ =^ 

Charlotte had sometimes thought, before her 
own life was despaired of, of the possibility of 
outliving her parents ; and her own feelings 
always seemed to shrink from such a contem- 
plated trial. And she has frequently been heard 
to say, that she should rather be called away 
herself, if God could see fit, than follow either of 
h^r dear parents to the gi'ave. " 0, it seems to 
me, I could not endure it and live." And happy 
for her, unquestionably, that she was spared this 
trial, by having her own happy spirit so early 
emancipated from the sorrows and sufierings of 
mortality, and introduced to that world where all 
is light, and bliss, and glory : 

Where she can bathe her weary soul 

In seas of heavenly rest ; 
And not a wave of sorrow roll 

Across her peaceful breast. 

Early in the spring of 1835, there seemed to 



62 MEMOIR OF 

The church committee. Con7ersation. 

be a partial waking up of interest in the church 
at Somers ; and it was thought advisable that the 
whole church should be visited by a committee 
appointed for the purpose, that personal conver- 
sation might be had with each member, and an 
attempt made to excite them to more faithfulness 
in the discharge of duty, and lead them to a more 
entire consecration to God. 

In the discharge of this duty, two of the com- 
mittee called at Dr. Hamilton's; and, in the 
course of conversation, inquiry was made of Mrs. 
Hamilton, (Dr. H. being absent on his professional 
business), in relation to her own evidence of ex- 
perimental piety. She replied, in substance, tl^t 
the manner in which she lived, led her sometimes 
to think that she never had any religion, and had 
been a hypocrite. Much more of the same kind 
of conversation took place. The committee were 
faithful in pressing duty. Charlotte listened with 
eager interest to the conversation on both sides, 
and after the interview had closed by an appro- 
priate prayer, in which a deacon of the church 
led, they left the house, to continue the course of 
their visits. 

Charlotte immediately called her mother to 
her — threw her arms about her neck — ^kissed her 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 63 

Charlotte's feelings and entreaties. 

most affectionately, and bursting into a flood of 
tears, asked, " dear mother, have you no hope that 
you are a Christian ? " And here she sobbed 
enough to break her heart. " 0, if you have no 
hope, it seems as though I could not live ! " 

Her mother told her she did not exactly under- 
stand her. She meant that she lived so, that she 
sometimes felt that she ought not to think herself 
a Christian ; and did not know but she might be 
deceived, although she had not really given up 
her hope. 

" 0, then, dear mother," said Charlotte, kiss- 
ing her again, " do try to live differently — live so 
that you won't need to have such feelings about 
yourself. Will you not^ 'ma ? And wUl you 7Wt 
begin nxnv V^ In this strain she continued for 
some time, in the most tender, respectful, and yet 
faithful exhortation. " And," she added, " do 
pray for me^ dear mother, that I may not be left 
to get into the dark, and lose my comfort and 
hope." 

At another time, while a sister of her mother, 
in an adjoining town, cut down in a very sudden 
and unexpected manner, was lying a corpse, 
Mrs. Hamilton was sitting in the room, in the 
evening, and supposing Charlotte was asleep, had 



64 MEMOIR OF 

Death of an aunt. Comforts her mother. 

taken up the Bible, and was reading it for her 
own comfort, under this unexpected bereavement. 
But Charlotte was not sleeping ; and observing 
the tears flowing, as her mother read, and evi- 
dently wishing to pour balm into her wounded 
heart, addressed her : " 0, 'ma, what could we do 
in affliction, if it were not for the Bible, and the 
hopes and comforts which it affords ? I often 
think I could never have borne the pain and dis- 
tress which I have, this winter, if I could not 
have seen the hand of God in it, and if the Bible 
had not said, ' whom the Lord loveth he chasten- 
eth.' But I can bear it now. I know it is all 
right. But 0, 'ma, what can the poor heathen 
do, who have no Bible to tell them about God ? 
I often wonder how they can bear pain and afflic- 
tions, when they do not understand that it is God 
who sends them upon them, nor the reasons why 
he sends them." 

Let me ask that the reader would just look at 
a mere child^ in such a way, and under circum- 
stances like these, evidently attempting to com- 
fort her afflicted mother, in this indirect and 
ingenious manner, and by such appeals ; and then 
say, whether there is a minister of the gospel, 
who might not sit down by such an example, and 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 65 

The written note. 

feel himself instructed in regard to one very 
important branch of his oflGicial duty, when visit- 
ing the afflicted children of God, and complying 
with the command, " Comfort ye, comfort ye my 
people." 

I shall close this chapter by introducing here, 
the only note which Charlotte is ever known to 
have made in writing, respecting her feelings. It 
was found on a piece of paper, folded up in the 
form of a little book, and was probably designed 
to have been followed by other entries, for her 
own eye. It is copied in the exact language in 
which it was written. 

"April 20, 1835. 
" Here I am, confined to my bed, and am not 
able to do any thing. I have not been to church 
for more than six months ; it seems a very long 
time. 0, how I long to go ! But God has seen 
fit to order it otherwise ; and 0, I do hope and 
pray, that I shall not be left to complain. Yet, 
with all my afflictions, I have a great many bless- 
ings for which I ought to be very thankful." 



56 MEMOIR OF 

Her opinion of pride. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Although Charlotte, ordinarily, said but little, 
especially when any were present with whom she 
was not familiarly acquainted, yet she was a 
close observer of the conduct and characters of 
those who were thrown in her way, as frequently 
evinced by her introducing the subject afterwards, 
in the confidence and privacy of the domestic 
circle. 

On one occasion she introduced the subject of 
jrride^ — and remarked that of all sins, pride 
seemed to her the meanest, and the most foolish, 
and especially to see people proud of their looks 
or their clothes. " Since I have been sick," said 
she, " some little girls have come in to see me, 
who had got on a new frock, or a new bonnet ; 
and they would twist and turn, (and here she, in 
a very humorous manner, imitated their gestures), 
and once in a while they would look at me, but a 
great deal oftener at themselves ; and I have no 



CHARLOTTE UAMILTON. 67 

Instance of pride acknowledged. 

doubt they thought more about their new frock or 
apron, than they did about my being sick." 

" Well, Charlotte," said one in the room, <' I 
suppose you never had any pride ? " 

" I suppose I have," said she. " I don't know 
as there is any body entirely without pride. It 
doesn't all show itself in the same way ; but I 
don't think I was ever proud of my clothes,''^ 

" Well, what did you ever feel proud about ? " 

" 0, I suppose I have felt proud about a great 
many things." 

" Well, then, you can mention one thing. Let 
us have a single thing, which you have felt pride 
about." 

After some pause and hesitation, she replied : 
" When I went to school, and had to stay out 
sometimes, on account of being unwell, I had to 
take my place at the foot of the class ; but I have 
sometimes got clear up to the head, the very first 
time spelling ; and when I looked round to see 
how many there were below me, I felt a little 
proud then. But it was not right." 

This is the substance of the artless manner in 
which she narrated what was unquestionably the 
simple truth in relation to her feelings. That 
uxLS the course which her pride took, and was 



58 MEMOIR OF 

Corrects her sisiler and brother. No leasing. 

very honestly confessed, although she could now 
see that it was wrong. 

Charlotte was quick to notice any inaccuracy 
in the use of language ; and when she heard any 
thing of the kind from her sister, she would hint 
it, by inquiring, in a very pleasant tone, " what 
grammar did you study, sister ? " 

One time her little brother came in, and with 
a good deal of spirit, said, he hated such a boy, 
who had done something to offend him. 

" 0, no, A — ," said she, " you should not hate 
any one ; you may hate their actions^ but you 
should not hate them — ^you should love them." 
Such remarks as these were often made by her, 
when she thought it would be proper for her to 
express them to the person, who might be the 
occasion of calling them forth. 

There was another circumstance in relation to 
this child, which it may be proper to notice. 
Whenever she went to her parents with a request 
that she might go somewhere, or do something 
which she wished, and received a decided *' iVb, 
you cannot go ; " or, " I do not think it best; " 
that, with Charlotte, was the end of the business. 
There never was any '' teasing ^^ — any " do let 
me go — or do it," &c., so common among children. 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 69 

How children may be learned to tease. 

Here is a lesson for parents, as well as children. 
Never refuse a request unless you mean as you 
say ; and then let that decision be final. Chil- 
dren may very easily be taught to tease, by 
yielding to their solicitations, after having refused 
them. In such cases, they cannot be expected to 
show a willingness to take no for an answer, when 
contrary to their inclinations or wishes. 

After the death of Louisa K., the mother of 
Charlotte said to her, that, had she known Louisa 
was so soon to be taken away, she should have 
oftener yielded to her requests, to visit her little 
friend, on account of the intimacy which had 
existed between them. 

Charlotte replied, with a tear starting from her 
eye, " I used sometimes to want to go, very much 
indeed ; but I knew you meant to do right, 'ma ; 
and I did not think hard about it ; because I was 
satisfied that you must know best." 

Let there be ground for this confidence of the 
child, in the case of every parent. This, the 
child may often be made to see, with proper care 
on the part of the parent, after the circumstances 
have taken place. And the child will not only 
understand that " No " mean^ no ; but feel as- 
sured of the benevolence of the decision. 



60 MEMOIR OF 

Charlotte's interest for her sister. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Charlotte felt a deep interest that her littlex 
infant sister should, very early, be instructed in 
religious truth. She often spoke to her mother 
and oldest sister on the subject, and urged them, 
as soon as she could begin to understand any 
thing about it, to tell her about God, and try to 
learn her to love him. 

" I have often thought," she would sometimes 
say, " how I should have tried to do it, if I 
should live. I would lead her out, and when I 
saw a beautiful flower, I would tell her that God 
made that flower. And when I saw apples, or 
cherries, or peaches, or any fruit which she loved, 
I would tell her that God made them grow ; and 
that he made every thing which we see. And I 
would try, then, to show her how she ought to 
love such a God. But," she would add, " I shall 
not live to teach her." And then, addressing her 
mother and sister, " you will teach her about God, 
when I am gone, won't you ? and try to teach her 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 61 

Her plan. 

to love him, as soon as she can understand any 
thing about him ? " 

Kemarks similar to the above, she made fre- 
quently, respecting this most interesting subject 
— the early religious instruction of children. The 
plan which she had formed, respecting the manner 
of attempting to associate the idea of God with 
every object which would be likely to interest the 
infant mind, was not gathered from books or con- 
versation, but seemed to have been the result of 
her own study ; and is worthy of the considera- 
tion of every parent or teacher, who has any 
thing to do with the religious training of the 
young, or would be instrumental in promoting 
infant piety. How much in this way, might be 
done, where almost nothing is now attempted, to 
familiarize to the young mind the fact that there 
is a God, and that he ought to be loved ; and who 
can tell the result ? It may be the very instru- 
mentality upon which God will smile, and to 
which, he will add his blessing. And then, how 
many infant voices would pour forth, from re- 
newed hearts, " Hosanna to the Son of David." 

At another time, Charlotte told her mother, 
she had learned something about prayer, which 
ghe did not understand once. " I had heard min- 

6 



62 MEMOIR OF 

Her method of prayer. 

isters say, sometimes, * you must pray always — 
pray without ceasing,' &c. But I could not see 
how this could be very well done. For I thought 
I could not offer acceptable prayer to God, unless 
I went away alone, and kneeled down, and made 
use of words. But now I have learned, 'ma, that 
I can. I can pray lying here on the bed, when 
you and 'pa are in the room, and ever so many 
more, and even if you should all be talking. I 
don't say any words, but my heart can be praying 
all the time. And I often feel that God is close 
by me, and tells me how to pray, and hears every 
thing which my heart prays, when I don't use 
any words at all. If my heart tells God what I 
want, he understands it just as well as if I said 
the words aloud." This is the simple experience 
of a child of ten years of age, and as nearly in 
her own simple words as could be remembered. 
What a channel of communication must be opened 
between God and such a soul, in the exercise of 
prayer ! This was her most precious, delightful 
employment. It seemed to be, as it were, her 
meat and drink ; and evidently did much to pre- 
pare her for the scenes which were to follow. 
How much confidence sKe had in prayer, will 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 63 

Tender conscience. 

appear in the subsequent part of the volume. And 
it is emphatically true, that 

She who thus felt the worth of prayer, 
Delighted to be often there. 

A single fact may be mentioned in this place, 
illustrative of the tenderness of conscience which 
marked this dear child. Several months before 
her death, she asked both of her parents to for- 
give her, for any thing she had done to hurt their 
feelings in disobeying them. She then requested 
them to tell her of some particular instance of 
disobedience, which they could recollect. This 
request was often repeated, and in such a way as 
to show, that the subj ect rested with much weight 
upon her mind ; and 

*' Though her own heart accused her not," 

of intentional disobedience, still she was willing 
to have the whole truth, in relation to this sub- 
ject brought under review, before she should go 
hence, that she might know the worst of her case ; 
and she did not seem to doubt that her parents 
would readily recollect numerous cases of disobe- 
dience. But they assured her that they did not. 



S4: MEMOIR OF 

One instance of disobedience. 

And they have since assured the compiler, that 
they could not, at that time, recollect a single 
instance of intentional disobedience in this child, 
since she had come to years of discretion. 

Her mother, at one time, after Charlotte had 
again introduced the subject, asked her if she 
recollected any particular instance of disobedi- 
ence. She replied, she supoosed she had dis- 
obeyed a great many times. 

"Well, then, said her mother, mention one 
instance which you can recollect." 

" I do not recollect but one instance," said she ; 
and then related the circumstance, inserted on a 
previous page, of her leaving home, with the con- 
sent of her sister, to play with a little companion 
of hers, while her mother was absent, and had 
left them both to remain at home, in charge of 
the house. (See page 12.) 

This was the only instance, which this child 
could recollect, of disobedience to her parents; 
and this was under such circumstances of pallia- 
tion, as would have quieted any conscience less 
tender than her own. But it had made an 
impression on her mind, not easily to be effaced. 
And she had the ingenuousness to acknowledge 
it on this bed of sickness, long after it had passed 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 65 

Fondness for books. Todd's lectures. 



from the recollection of her parent ; and again to 
seek forgiveness for it, although she had long 
since sought and obtained forgiveness of her 
God. 

Charlotte was exceedingly fond of books ; and 
during the last winter of her life, confined, as she 
was, to her room, she seemed eagerly to devour 
every thing of the kind, of a religious character, 
which she could get. Her Sabbath school teacher, 
aware of her interest in books, procured a copy of 
" Todd's Lectures to children," from the Sabbath 
School Library, and sent it to her. Charlotte 
was delighted with it. But she seemed unwilling 
to read more than a chapter at a time. This was 
so different from her usual conduct, that her mo- 
ther inquired the reason. Charlotte replied, that 
she could not bear the thought of getting through 
with it ; and therefore she would consent to read 
but little at a time, in order that the rich enter- 
tainment which she derived from reading it, might 
hold out the longer ! 

The substance of one of the illustrations, with 
which the book abounds, Charlotte related to her 
mother, in her own words, and then made the 
application to herself. But it may be interesting 



6» 



66 MEMOIR OF 

The quotation. 

to the reader to see the entire paragraph, copied 
in the language of the author. It follows. 

" People have three things, which they think 
of, and which they call their friends. These 
three things are, 1. The world, that is, property, 
and houses, and all the fine things which they 
have. 2. Their friends. 3. Jesus Christ. The 
first of these friends is loved the most. Our 
friends are loved the next best ; and Jesus Christ 
least of all. So when we are taken sick, and 
must die, and go in before the great King, we call 
upon these to help us. The world, and the things 
of the world, however cannot go with us one step. 
They must all be useless, the moment we lie upon 
the bed of death. The next, which is, our friends, 
can go with us through the sickness, as far as the 
gate of death, and there they stop and leave us. 
But Jesus Christ, that friend of whom we think 
so little, and whom we love so little, can go in 
with us before the great King of kings, and plead 
for us — intercede for us, and thus save our souls 
from being condemned to eternal death. This , 
0, thiSy is the time when we need him for our 
friend, and need him for our intercessor. He died 
for us, and can, therefore, be our friend, and plead 
for us, and save us." 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 67 

The application. Subject of wonder. 

Charlotte repeated to her mother the substance 
of this paragraph, and added, as her head was 
reclining upon her mother's bosom, and her eyes 
were raised to her's, " You can go to the gate 
with me, 'ma ; but you can't go any farther. But 
0, if I had no Saviour, I should have to go all 
alone." 

The preciousness of this Saviour she had 
already learned from her own rich experience, 
during her protracted sickness, and he did not for- 
sake her in a dying hour. 

At another time, when Charlotte had seemed to 
be in a deep study for some time, she broke forth 
in an expression of delight, mingled with wonder, 
" how is it, 'ma ; we try every way to find happi- 
ness — the world, and friends, and pleasure, and 
get disappointed ; and after all, as the very last 
thing, we go to Jesus Christ, and then he will 
receive us ! " At this stoop of condescension on 
the part of Christ, this dear child could not sup- 
press her wonder. And it is wonderful. Would 
that it were more justly appreciated. 



68 MEMOIR OP 

Disease renews its attack. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Until within about eleven weeks of her death, 
hopes, more or less encouraging, were entertained, 
that Charlotte might eventually recover. She 
occasionally rode out, when the weather would 
admit ; but always had to be carried from her 
room to the carriage, as much as an infant would 
be. But about this time her disease seemed to 
renew the energy of its attack, and she was 
reduced to a still lower point than she had ever 
been before. She was now confined exclusively 
to her bed; and while the body was rapidly 
wasting away, her soul seemed to be gathering 
new strength, and preparing for its release from 
its earthly prison house, and for its entrance into 
that world, where all is light, and bliss, and 
glory. 

One morning her mother said to her, " Char- 
lotte, you feel a good deal more unwell, do you 
not ? " The reply was that she did. Her mother 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 69 

Feelings in view of Death. 

then told her that she had been hoping that she 
was getting better, and would get well. 

Charlotte replied, that she knew her friends 
thought she was getting better; but, said she, " I 
have never very much thought I should get well, 
since last winter." 

" Why, then," said her mother, *' did you not 
tell us of it ? " She made but little answer. But 
it seemed evident that the reason was, she did not 
wish to give her friends uneasiness about it. 

About this time, she mentioned to her mother 
that she had intended to set out some rose bushes 
on her little brother's grave, who had died, at 
about the age of eight months. *' But," she 
added, " I shall never do it now ; and I wish you 
would have Elizabeth do it." 

" And do you feel, my child, that you shall 
soon lie by his side ? " 

" Yes, 'ma, my body will : but I have no fear 
of death now. I used to feel distressed at the 
thought of dying, when I was first taken sick. 
But I don't feel so now." 

" My child, you don't know how you will feel ; 
the trial has not come, yet. Perhaps if you 
thought you should not live till tomorrow morn- 
^'^gy you would not feel as you do now." 



70 MEMOIR OF 

The mother's query. Reply. 

" I have seen the time, 'ma, when I thought I 
should not live so long as that, and I did not feel 
afraid to die. I could trust myself in God's 
hands, and felt willing to go, if He saw fit to 
call me." 

" I suppose," — said the mother, in a way that 
was likely to make the impression that she 
regarded it as a matter of course, — " you felt 
willing to die, because you would get away from 
so much pain, as you have to sufi'er here ? " 

Charlotte started, and with a look of amaze- 
ment replied, " dear mother, why, I never 
thought of that." — No one could have witnessed 
the manner in which this was uttered, and yet 
doubt that she expressed the exact truth, on the 
subject. And yet how many older Christians, on 
a sick-bed, have felt a wish to die, because, in 
this way, they should be freed from pain and 
suffering here. Plow few could say, with this 
child, " I have never thought of that ? " 

After speaking of the happiness of heaven, her 
mother asked Charlotte, what she thought, would 
make heaven such a happy place ? whether it 
would be, because God would be there; and 
because she could see her Saviour, and be with 
him?" 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 71 

The happiness of heaven. 

" 0, 'ma," said she, *' more than every thing 
else, it will be, because there will be no sin 
THERE. Why 'ma, you know we could be perfectly 
happy here if it were not for sin." The great 
burden of her soul seemed to be sin, — " sin.'' It 
was this, most emphatically, that marred all her 
peace, and led her so often to pant for a release 
from the body. She seemed to realize the truth 
of those impressive lines, 



" Were I enthroned above the rest, 
Where angels or archangels dwell ; 
One sin, unslaln within my breast, 
Would make that world as dark as hell.' 



In the midst of all her own sufferings, Char- 
lotte never ceased to cherish a deep anxiety for 
the spiritual welfare of her friends. And this 
anxiety was often expressed. She frequently 
spoke of her only brother, about six years of age, 
and expressed great earnestness of desire, that he 
should immediately attend to the concerns of his 
soul, and become a Christian. " 0, 'ma," said she 
at one time, " how distressing is the thought, that 
one of my dear friends may not meet me in 
heaven ! " 



72 MEMOIR OF 

The grandfather's visit. 

Her mother replied that she did not think her 
happiness in heaven would depend upon the fact 
whether others were, or were not saved ; and that 
if any one of, or all her friends should refuse to 
comply with the gospel, it would not mar her 
happiness. 

" 0, I know it, 'ma," said Charlotte, " for I 
should see the justice of God in such a way, that 
I should knofw it was all right on the part of God, 
and I should not be unhappy. But 0, it would 
be painful parting with them naw^'^ said she, 
sobbing as she spoke, " if I could not hope that I 
might meet them in heaven." 

At one of the frequent visits of her grand- 
father, he gave Charlotte a piece of poetry, said 
to have been written by a daughter of President 
Day, a short time before her death, which he had 
copied, with some slight alterations, to adapt it to 
the circumstances of this favorite grandchild of 
his. This, to her, was a most acceptable service, 
as she said it expressed her feelings most accu- 
rately. As many of the readers of this volume 
may never have seen this poetical effusion, it has 
been deemed advisable to insert it, notwithstand- 
ing its length. It follows : 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 78 

Poeiry. 

I would not wish that o'er my grave, 
A rose or myrtle bough should lean, 

Nor e'en the willow there should wave. 
Nor aught but wild flowers should be seen. 

I would not wish that those I love. 
Should wander there at close of day, 

And think of her, o'er whom they rove, 
As dwelling only with decay ; 

Or gazing on the little mound, 

Imagine /beneath must be ; 
And starting at the slightest sound, 

With chiliing horror think of me. 

No, but in each familiar spot. 
Which both to me and them was dear, 

There I would not be all forgot, 
Yet ne'er remember'd with a tear. 

In the sweet home I loved so well. 

Round ihem^ unseen, I oft would fly, 
Teaching the summer breeze to swell 

With notes of spirit melody. 

And something in that half-heard strain. 
Should breathe an unforgotten voice, 

And bringing thought all free from pain, 
Should slilJ forbid them to rejoice. 

Or when around the cheerful hearth, 

Parents and children meet at eve, 
While beats each heart with love or mirth, 

0, let no thought of Chaklotte grieve. 

7 



MEMOIR OF 

The Chinese paper. 

Yet I would hover in the air, 

And bind each heart with spells unknown, 
Till they should feel my spirit there, 

Mingling in every look and tone. 

Each glance of childhood's sparkling eye. 
Each thrilling sound of childish glee, 

And every pensive look and sigh, 
All should some token bear of me. 

Yet with my memory should not come 
One thought of dear affections crossed, 

Or any shade in that lov'd home. 
Where by my Saviour I was washed. 

When these stanzas had been read, and Char- 
lotte had expressed her approbation of them, she 
said, " Grandpa, I have got one paper now, which 
you have written on, and which you gave me. 
Sister E., will you not bring my little box here ?" 
— She had one which she had appropriated as a 
repository of such little papers as contained any 
thing which particularly interested her feelings. 
She soon found the paper to which she referred, 
— it was a small piece of colored Chinese paper, 
beautifully ornamented, which her grandfather 
had somewhere found, and between the columns 
of Chinese characters with which it was printed, 
he had written the following : — Charlotte Hamil- 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 75 

C's comment. The reply. 

ton, Somers, Con. — Learn Christ's gospel ; obey 
God's commandments ; pray for his grace ; lead 
a life of virtue ; your heart void of offence ; then 
shall your future course be blessed, and your end 
be peace." This was dated "Nov. 1833," and 
was given to her while on a visit to her grand- 
father's, about one month after she thought she 
had given up her heart to God, — and had not 
been thought of by him, since that time. 

As she handed him the little paper, choicely 
folded up, he said, smiling, " Why, Charlotte, I 
am sure there cannot be much written on such a 
little piece of paper as that ; (not being able to 
recollect any thing about giving her the paper, or 
what he had written upon it.) 

Charlotte replied, " You know, Grandpa, that 
a little sometimes means a good deal, — and may 
be thought of, and do good, a long time after- 
wards." 

This comment, connected with the choice 
manner in which she had preserved the paper, 
indicated the value which she placed upon it ; 
and when he came now to read it, in his own 
hand writing, under these touching circumstances, 
brought forward on her dying bed — the tears 



76 MEMOIR OF 

Little mementos of affection. 

started, as he said, " Dear child, you have lived 
up to this, faithfully." 

A few weeks before her death, Charlotte em- 
ployed some of the moments, when she felt the 
least distressed, in doing up little locks of her 
hair, very neatly, for some of her most intimate 
friends, to be preserved as little mementos of 
herself, after she should be called away. A 
description of one of these, will answer for the 
whole. The paper was cut exactly round, about 
the size of a quarter of a dollar, and very neatly 
and finely notched on the edge, all round. To 
this, a lock of her hair was tied with a blue 
ribbon, with as much taste as could have been 
done by any individual whatever. This was 
enclosed in another piece of paper, on the inside 
of which, was written with a pencil, the following, 
by her own hand : 

" When this little lock you see, 
Will you, dear Aunt, remember me ? " 

This was sent to an aunt, to whom she was 
greatly attached, then residing in Hartford. 
When she had completed this, her strength was 
almost entirely exhausted, although it was done 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 77 

Indication oC composure. 

at intervals, when she felt most able to use her 
hands enough for such a purpose. She had pre- 
viously finished several others, in a similar man- 
ner, and given them away ; and had commenced 
several more, which were never completed. 
These incidents are mentioned simply to illus- 
trate the perfect composure with which she con- 
templated her own departure, and made all her 
arrangements for it. She could not have ex- 
hibited more, had she been about to remove to 
some delightful part of the country, and wishing 
to distribute to her friends, some little tokens of 
affectionate regard, to be preserved by them. She 
always spoke of death, with as much calmness 
and placidity, as she would speak of going to bed. 
There seemed to be nothing in it, that could 
agitate her in the least. But it was always 
regarded as " the gate to endless joy." 

7* 



78 MEMOIR OF 

Wishes to make a profession of religion. 



CHAPTER IX. 

In the month of July, Charlotte, in some way, 
introduced the subject of making a profession of 
religion, in conversation with her mother. She 
had evidently thought much of it, although she 
had never formally expressed the wish to do so, 
herself. 

Her mother said to her, " perhaps we have not 
done right, in thinking it was not best that you 
and E. should make a profession until you were 
some older. But we meant to do right." 

" I know you did," said Charlotte. " But 0, 
if I should get well, I think it would be the first 
thing which I should wish to do. Besides, 'ma, 
you know Christ gave the command^ ^ This do in 
remembrance of me ; ' and it seems to me, it 
aught to be obeyed. That hymn is very beau- 
tiful— 

" Do this, said he, till time shall end, 
In memory of your dying friend ; 
Meet at my table and record 
The love of your departed Lord." 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON, 79 

Her reasons. 

But I suppose it has sometimes been done on a 
sick bed. I recollect it was in the case of Nathan 
Dickerman." 

" I know," said her mother, " it has sometimes 
been done at such a time. But you know, Char- 
lotte, it would make no difference in regard to 
your acceptance with God. If your heart is right 
in his sight, and you are a real Christian, God 
will accept you, even if you have never made a 
public profession of religion, and partaken of the 
ordinance of the supper." 

" 0, I know it, 'ma — I know it. It would be 
only because I should love to comply with that 
command of the Saviour, that I should feel 
anxious to do it." 

Such was the feeling of this dear child in 
relation to this ordinance. She had, doubtless, 
long thought upon the subject, although she had 
not before expressed her feelings decidedly, to 
either of her parents. Whether they erred in 
judgment, in regard to the advice to these two 
children, to defer making a profession of religion, 
for such a length of time, on the ground of their 
childhood, is a question that would probably be 
decided differently, by different individuals. 
Without entering into a discussion of the question 



80 MEMOIR OF 

A general rule. Evidence of pleiy. 

respecting " speedy admissions to the churches,'* 
the compiler feels bound to make this general 
remark ; that so much time should be required to 
elapse, between indulging hope, and making pub- 
lic profession of religion, as is necessary to furnish 
satisfactory evidence of the existence of genuine 
piety. This is a general rule, by which every 
minister and church ought to feel themselves 
bound. Satisfactory evidence of the existence of 
genuine piety ought to be demanded in every 
instance ; and it is obvious, that the time to gain 
this evidence from different individuals, will be 
longer in some cases, than in others. When an 
individual gains this evidence for himself, it is his 
duty to request the privilege of obeying the dying 
injunction of Christ, " This do in remembrance 
of me ; " and when a church receives this evi- 
dence from an individual, it is their duty to yield 
to him this privilege. The church have no right 
to refuse it, any more than they have a right to 
prevent obedience in any other particular. They 
ought to be satisfied of the genuineness of piety 
in the case ; but when satisfied, they cannot, with- 
out criminality stand in the way of a Christian's 
discharge of his ^^ whole duty to his God and 
Saviour. 



CUAllLOTTE HAMILTON. 81 

A possibility of mistake. 

It is true, that a church may mistake the real 
character of a person, of whose piety they may 
feel satisfied, with only a short probation. And 
so they might mistake, if they required him to 
wait one, two, or five years ! Infallibility is en- 
tirely out of the question. It did not charac- 
terize the proceedings of the apostles themselves, 
in regard to this point ; as any one will see, from 
the recorded baptism of Simon Magus, the case of 
Annanias and Sapphira, &c. The possibility of 
deception will still exist, take what time the 
church may, to test the piety of those to be ad- 
mitted within the sacred enclosures. But with 
the best light which the church can have, she is 
bound to go forward in the discharge of duty, 
and leave results with God. This is all the great 
Head of the church demands. 

If, then, the church are as well satisfied of the 
existence of piety in the child of eight or ten 
years of age, as they are of the adult individual 
received ; why should not the child be admitted 
to the same privilege ? And why is not the child 
as much bound to obey the injunction of Christ, 
as the adult ? If mere childhood does not neces- 
sarily prevent their becoming Christians, neither 
should it prevent their being admitted to those 



82 MEMOIR OF 

The Pastor's visit and proposition. 

positive institutions of Christ which were designed 
for Christians. In relation to such, we may re- 
gard Christ as saying emphatically, *' Suffer the 
little children to come unto me, and forbid them 
not, for such is the kingdom of heaven." 

About two weeks subsequent to the foregoing 
conversation, respecting uniting with the church, 
and commemorating the death of Christ, the Eev. 
Mr. Dennis, pastor of the church in Somers, called 
to see Charlotte, and without knowing that she 
had said any thing on the subject, asked her, 
whether she had ever thought that it would be a 
privilege to make a public profession of religion, 
and commemorate the dying love of Christ, should 
she be spared to get well ? 

She replied that she had ; and thought it would 
be a great privilege. From the manner of her 
answer, her pastor perceived that this subject was 
one of deep interest to her, and he then changed 
the form of the question, and asked, if it were 
practicable for her to be admitted to the church, 
while on this bed of sickness, and once, before 
she died, to partake of the emblems of the Sav- 
iour's body and blood, whether she would wish to 
do it ? She replied with great earnestness, that 
she should. He then told her, he supposed it was 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 83 

Feelings at a former communion. 

practicable, and had often been done in similar 
circumstances ; and that he would take the sub- 
ject into special consideration, and converse with 
her, farther about it, at another time. 

The subject, being thus introduced, seemed to 
fill her thoughts as was evident from her frequent 
reference to it in conversation. She told her mo- 
ther in the evening, that she was glad Mr. D. 
introduced the subject ; that she should not have 
dared to mention it to him first, because she did 
not know as it would be proper to be done. 
'' But," said she, " if he had not thought it 
proper, he would not have mentioned it ; do you 
think he would, 'ma ? " The reply was in the 
negative. Charlotte then told her mother she 
recollected being present when some of her com- 
panions were admitted to the church, before she 
was taken sick ; and that she staid at the com- 
munion, and could not help feeling sorry that she 
was not admitted among the others, so that she 
could partake with them ; " and when you took 
the cup, 'ma, you looked round on me, and I 
thought you wished that I could partake of that 
cup with you. I shall never forget my feelings 
at that time." 



84 MEMOIR OP 

Ability to bear pain. 



CHAPTER X. 

The conversations and incidents narrated in this, 
and the subsequent chapters are almost exclu- 
sively taken from notes made by the mother of 
Charlotte, near the time of their occurrence, or 
immediately after her death ; with the exception 
of a part, of which the compiler was an eye-wit- 
ness. Some of the dates have been preserved. 

Jidy 26. During the morning, Charlotte was 
very feeble ; and evidently, for a long time, was 
engaged in prayer. At length, she looked up, 
and said, very pleasantly to her mother, " Ma, I 
think I shall be able to bear pain better than I 
have done. I have been very much afraid that 
my patience would not hold out ; but I shall be 
able to bear now, without complaining, whatever 
God sees fit to lay upon me." 

" My child," said the mother, " have you 
been praying for patience ? " 

" I have ; and God has heard my prayer," 
was the reply. 

At this time, the operation of dressing the 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 85 

The condition of the limb. Tears. 

diseased limb, was painful in the extreme. Of 
this, every one must be satisfied, when it is re- 
marked that purulent matter was secreted round 
the bone, from the knee, nearly to the hip ; and 
that when it was dressed, this matter had to be 
forced downward by pressure, through nearly the 
whole length of the limb, to the knee, the place 
of discharge. The quantity thus removed from 
the limb, varied ; but sometimes amounted nearly 
to half a pint of the most ofi'ensive matter. Take 
these facts into view, connected with the extreme 
soreness of the limb, and the reader will be sat- 
isfied that the operation of dressing the limb, was 
a most painful one. It was for patience to bear 
this pain, that Charlotte had been praying, and 
expressed such confidence that her prayer had 
been heard. 

While her father was dressing the limb at this 
time, the agony of sufi'ering brought tears from 
her eyes ; but looking up to her father through 
her tears, with an expression which cannot be 
described, she meekly said, " the tears will run, 
but I have not complained, have I, pa ? " She 
then added with a smile, " I can hear it.^^ 

After the dressing was finished, her head, and 
poor little emaciated body, were permitted to 



86 MEMOIR OF 

Comparing her sufferings with Clirisi's. 

recline in her grandmother's lap. It was wished 
that she might get some sleep ; but in a short 
time she broke forth in the following strain, ad- 
dressed to her grandmother : " When 'pa was 
dressing my limb, I was thinking of our Saviour's 
sufferings on the cross. 0, how he suffered, no 
tongue can tell ! No friends stood by, to comfort 
and pity him. And he was suffering, not for his 
sins, but for ours ; while I am surrounded by 
friends who do all they can to comfort me, 
though I am suffering for my own sins ! " What 
think you, middle-aged, or aged Christian, of the 
'philosophy of selecting such a subject for medita- 
tion, to prevent repining, under such circum- 
stances ? Is it not the philosophy of the book of 
God ? And can you fix upon a better topic for 
such a purpose, in the whole range of revealed 
truth, than the one selected by this child ? Re- 
ceive a lesson of instruction from this example. 
In the very hottest furnace of affliction in which 
you can be thrown, you, as well as this dear child 
may say with pertinency — these are not the 

SORROWS AND SUFFERINGS OF GeTHSEMANE. 

Soon after the above remarks of Charlotte, shQ 
commenced conversing with her sister, in sub- 
stance as follows : " I have but a little while to 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 87 



Address to her sister. 

live, sister E , and I feel sorry that you 

must be left alone ; but still, on my own account, 
I do not wish to live. I have no fears in regard 
to myself; I feel confident that I shall be hap- 
pier in another world, than I can be here. 0, 
sister, do be prepared to die, and then our sepa- 
ration will be short, and we can both be happy 
there forever, because there will be no sin there." 

She then entreated her to be faithful to their 
little brother and sister — to tell them about God, 
his goodness and mercy ; about the sufferings 
and death of Christ, and all that he has done to 
save sinners. "0, take them into your cham- 
ber," said she, " and try to make them under- 
stand these things, and love God. Elizabeth, 
WILL YOU DO IT ? " This was expressed in such 
a tone, and with such earnestness, that it cannot 
be forgotten. 

July 27. During the whole of this day, 
Charlotte was very weak, and said but little, till 
towards evening. She then expressed her full 
confidence in God — said she did not fear the pain 
which she was yet to suffer, for she could bear it 
now. 

" My child," said the mother, " are you confi- 
dent that God has heard your prayer ? " 



88 MEMOIR OF 

Assurance from Christ. 

She answered in the affirmative, and added, 
" 'ma, you thought me worse last Saturday; but 
you did not know how I felt. I thought my life 
had been spared so long, and I had suffered so 
much, that I could not bear much more ; and was 
afraid I should be left to murmur or complain. I 
felt so, through the day. But I have no fears 
now. God has heard my prayer, and it seemed 
just as if Jesus stood by me, and said, he would 
give me 'patience^ as long as he gave me pain; 
and he has made me willing to live, and suffer, as 
long as he sees fit." She then requested her 
mother to sing the following favorite hymn of 
hers: 

Why should we start and fear to die ? 

What timorous worms we mortals are ! 
Death is the gate of endless joy, 

And yet we dread to enter there. 

The pains, and groans, and dying strife, 
Fright our approaching souls away ; 

Still shrink we back again to life, 
Fond of our prison and our clay. 

0, if my Lord would come and meet, 
My soul should stretch her wings in haste, 

Fly fearless through death's iron gate. 
Nor feel the terrors as she passed. 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 89 

Ad<lres3 to a young feiend. 

Jesus can make a dying bed, 

Feel soft as downy pillows are, 
While on his breast I lean my head, 

And breathe my life out sweetly there. 

After this hymn was sung, Charlotte added, 
" if my Saviour was to call for me now — this 
very hour, I think I could rest my head upon his 
bosom — 

' And breathe my life out sweetly there.' " 

One of her young companions, who had united 
with the church, came in to see her. Charlotte, 
much exhausted, whispered to her mother, " 0, 
how I wish I could talk to Abigail. Don't let 
her go away, and I will rest a minute, and per- 
haps I can say a few words." She waited a little 
while, and then took her by the hand and said, 
" Abigail you have professed to love God. Do 
live near to him. Don't go away from him, and 
forget what he has done for you. Do love him 
more and more, and live only for him. He has 
promised that whatever we ask in the name, and 
for the sake of Jesus Christ, he will do it for us. 
Then pray ; and try to do good among your com- 
panions. Tell them, from me, that there is nothing 

8* 



90 MEMOIR OF 

Reply 10 Mr. F. Her little brother. 

worth living for, but heaven. Tell them I love 
them all, and want to see them, and talk with 
them, but cannot. 0, do try to make them love 
God. I know they would, if they knew how good 
he is. Tell them they may be called for, in an 
hour when they think not of it, and I want to 
meet them all in heaven, and we shall be happier 
there, than we ever were here." 

Soon after this, Mr. F. came into the room, and 
inquired how she did ? She turned her head, and 
looked upon him with a great deal of earnest- 
ness, and said, " you used to teach me when I was 
well. I want to thank you for it — I can't do 
any thing else. But I want to have you love 
God, and be prepared to die. You know not how 
soon you may be called away. It seems to me 
you would love God, if you knew how good he is. 
I want to meet you in heaven." 

She then desired her little brother to come 
near her, and took him by the hand, and said, 
'' I can't live but a little while, and want to say 
a great deal to you, but cannot talk much. I 
want to have you remember me, and 0, I want to 
have you love and serve God. I love you. A., 
but I shall live but a little while, and then I shall 
go where Jesus is, and shall be happy. And I 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 91 

Her legacy. Affectionate entreaty. 

want to have you come there too ; but you can't, 
unless you repent. You are old enough to under- 
stand something about it now. And you can 
pray to God to give you a new heart, and teach 
you how to pray. Praying is only just telling 
God what you want. Now you can do this ; and 
I am sure, in a little while, you will love to pray 
to Him; — I know you will." 

She then requested to have her little bible 
brought, that she might present it, as a legacy, to 
this dear and only brother, from his dying sister. 
It was brought. And, still retaining her little 
brother's hand in one of her's, she took the bible 
in the other, and in the most solemn and affecting 
manner, entreated him to keep it as coming from 
her, to read it, and try to understand it. "It is 
what is contained in this blessed book," said she, 
" that enables me to bear what I do, and that 
makes me willing to [die. And I hope it will 
afford you as much comfort, as it has afforded me. 
Here, you can read about Jesus Christ, who died 
for sinners ; and about heaven, where he is now. 
But if you do not repent and love him, you never 
can go there. Dear brother, I hope I shall meet 
you in heaven." 

She then turned to her father, and, holding up 



92 MEMOIR OF 

To her father— mother — sister, 

the book, said, " You gave me this bible, and it is 
the most precious present, which you ever made 
me. It has been the means of saving my soul. I 
thank you for it. I was glad at the time, to have 
a new book ;^ but I little thought of the consola- 
tion it would afford me." 

She then thanked her mother, very affection- 
ately for all the good instruction which she had 
given her ; mentioned many things in particular 
which had been very much blessed to her, and 
earnestly entreated her to be faithful to her little 
brother, and infant sister. 

To her sister, older than herself, who indulged 
hope of a change of heart before she did, but had 
not yet made a profession of religion, she said, 
" E., I have asked you one question a number of 
times, but you have not given me a decided 
answer. Now I must know how you feel. Have 

YOU A GOOD HOPE THAT YOU SHALL MEET 3IE IN 

HEAVEN ? " After receiving an affirmative answer 
which satisfied her, she said, " well, then I can 
rest. But 1 am afraid you do not feel as you did 
once. Do live near to God. The time is short. 
Don't think, dear sister, too much of the world." 



* She was quite young when it was given her. 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 93 

Anticipated communion. 

Ill this manner this dear child seemed to be 
doing up her last work, as she and others thought; 
although she was spared for four weeks longer to 
struggle with pain and suffering, while, to all 
around, her life was hardly expected from one day 
to another. But God's time had not come ; and 
she seemed, emphatically, to be waitings with her 
loins girded about, and her lamp trimmed and 
burning. 

On account of the failure of the person who 
was to have taken care of Charlotte during the 
following night, her mother was left alone with 
her ; and to that mother's heart, this was a most 
interesting night. Her dear child seemed to be 

*' Rapt in joy, and love, and wonder," 

and ripening fast, for the purity and the bliss of 
heaven. 

Charlotte again introduced the subject of par- 
taking once, of the memorials of the Saviour's 
sufferings and death ; and said, she was glad her 
minister had mentioned it. She then asked her 
mother if she did not think that she should par- 
take with her, if the ordinance should be ad- 
ministered to her on the next Sabbath, as was 



94 MEMOIR OF 

Her hope. Experience and fee'ings. 

proposed ? The reply was in the affirmative, 
Charlotte added, " and ever after, 'ma, when you 
go to the communion, you will remember that you 
once partook of that ordinance with me, but that 
then I shall be partaking it new, in the kingdom 
of heaven ;" evidently alluding to the phraseology 
of Christ, " until that day when I shall drink it 
new with you," &c. 

Her mother then asked her, if she still dated 
her hope back to the time when she had thought 
she first submitted her heart to God, which was 
on the last Sabbath in October, in 1833 ? 

" Yes, mother," was the reply ; " I do not 
think I ought to give it up. But I did not use 
to feel my obligations to God, as much as I have 
since. I think I used to love God for his good- 
ness and mercy ; and yet I did not realize how 
much I was indebted to his mercy. Why, 'ma, 
if he had not drawn me to him, I should never 
have come." 

But the inquiry was made, how has he " drawn" 
you, my child ? 

" By his Holy Spirit ; and he has kept me by 
this Spirit, and will not let me go." 

" I did not use to understand the justice of 
God in punishing sin ; did not see, as I now do, 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 95 

Willinsrness to die, tested. 

how he hated sin ; but I see it now ; and this 
makes his mercy appear so great.'* 

She then fell asleep, and in a little time awoke 
herself by repeating this line — 

" Jesus, my Lord, has gone before'* — 

Her mother asked her, what she said ? She then 
repeated the whole stanza : 

" Jesus, ray Lord, lias gone before, 
Him will I go and see ; 
And all my brethren- here below. 
Will soon come after me.'* 

" 'Ma, I am happy, I shall soon be where my 
Saviour is ; and all my dear friends who love 
God will soon follow ; we shall be happy." 
This was a most interesting night, especially to 
a mother's heart, who listened to much more of 
the same kind of conversation, which this dear 
child was pouring forth, from the overflowings of 
her full heart, conscious that she had almost 
crossed the vale of tears, and was ready to take 
possession of the unalloyed blessedness of the 
heavenly state, 

The next day, after Charlotte had been con-* 
versing for a while, her mother asked her, if 



98 MEMOIR OF 

Her Reply. 

she did not sometimes think that she might get 
well? 

The reply was, " I have not thought much 
about that." 

Her mother, then, for the purpose of testing 
her willingness to die, made an appeal to her 
sympathies; " Do you not wish to get well, Char- 
lotte ? You know how anxious we are, to have 
you live ; we love you, and have done, and are 
doing, every thing we can to have you get well ; 
and do you not wish to live ?" 

Charlotte replied ; ^* I know, 'ma, that you and 
'pa have done all that you can, and so have all 
my friends, and I thank you for it. But, 'ma, 
you have not, any of you, done as much as God 
has. He has given his Son to die for me, so that 
I might be saved ; and he has shown me my 
guilt, and subdued my heart^ — and has He not 
done more than any body else ? and ought I not 
to be willing to go, if he calls me away ?" 

Subsequently she said to her mother, that she 
felt as though she could not stay long ; and she 
did not wish to ; she had rather depart ; and 
repeated a part of the following favorite hymn. 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON 97 

Favorite Hymn. Inlereatin? chapter. 

•* On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, 

And cast a wishful eye, 
To Canaan's fair and happy land, 

Where my possessions lie. 

joyful and transporting scene, 

That rises to my sight ! 
Sweet fields arrayed in living green, 

And rivers of delight ! 

No chilling winds — no poisonous breath, 

Can reach that healthful shore ; 
Sickness and sorrow — pain and death, 

Are felt and feared no more. 

When shall I reach that happy place. 

And be forever bless' d ? 
When shall I see my Father's face, 

And in his bosom rest '?'* 

This seemed to be the sincere aspiration of her 
heart — the very panting of her soul. 

Her pastor, the Rev. Mr. Dennis, called to 
see her, and, in the course of conversation, men- 
tioned, particularly, the 14th chapter of John, 
which he wished she would read, when she was 
able ; or have some one read to her. Owing to 
her extreme diffidence, she did not tell him that 
she had thought of that chapter with any special 
interest. But after he had left, she told her 
mother, that she had read that chapter a great 



98 MEMOIR OF 

Inquiry. Uniform state of feeling. 

deal, and always with very great interest. " In- 
deed, 'ma, said she, I don't know how we could 
do, if that chapter were not in the Bible. It 
seems to contain more than almost any other." 

July 30. Charlotte inquired of her mother 
what day of the week it was ? On being told 
it was Thursday, she replied, that, if it was no 
later, she was afraid she should not live till the 
Sabbath, the time fixed upon, for her admission 
into the church. She was asked, if she felt anx- 
ious to live, until the Sabbath ? She replied, " I 
wish to live only that I may commemorate the 
sufferings and death of Christ. It will be a 
privilege to obey that dying command once, before 
I leave the world. I do not wish to live for any 
thing else." 

This was the only time she ever expressed any 
wish to live, even a single day, from the time she 
was confined entirely to her bed, about ten weeks 
previous to her death. The uniform attitude of 
her happy soul, seemed to be that of " waiting^^ — 
and " ready^^ for the coming of her Lord. 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 99 

Visit of her pastor. 



CHAPTER XI. 

During the last part of the week, respecting 
which we were speaking in the close of the pre- 
ceding chapter, Charlotte gave repeated evidence 
that she thought much of the anticipated privi- 
lege of commemorating the death of her Saviour. 
On Saturday morning her pastor. Rev. Mr. D., 
called again to see her, at the request of her 
father, who was fearful that she might not live 
until the next day. On this account, it had been 
suggested whether, in such an emergency, the 
mere formality of a vote of the church to receive 
her, as a member of that particular branch of the 
family of Christ, was necessary, before the sacra- 
ment could be administered. Mr. D. consented 
to dispense with it, in this case, and attend the 
services on that day, if it were thought ad\isable. 
He then proposed the question to her, whether 
she should prefer to have the services attended 
that day, rather than on the Sabbath ? 

She replied that she thought the Sabbath would 



100 MEMOIR OF 



More comfortable. Request to Mrs. K. 

be the most suitable day ; and that she should be 
willing to defer it, if she thought she should live 
until that time. But she did not know as she 
should ; still, she was willing to do as others 
thought best. 

As she seemed to be more comfortable at this 
time, than she was several hours before, it was 
thought best to defer the subject until the next 
day, to be attended to, during the interval be- 
tween the forenoon and afternoon services of pub- 
lic worship. 

During the day, Charlotte evidently appeared 
to be much in prayer, and gave unequivocal tokens 
that she appreciated the solemnity and import- 
ance of the transactions, in which she anticipated 
the privilege of engaging, on the following day. 
Eut during the day she said but little. 

In the evening, Mrs. K., a member of the 
church, and the mother of "Louisa," mentioned 
in a preceding part of the volume, called to see 
her. C. mentioned to her, that she expected, if 
she lived, to be admitted to the church on the 
following day, and partake of the sacrament once 
before she left the world ; and expressed a par- 
ticular desire to have Her present too. This 
request was undoubtedly prompted by the inti- 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 101 

Address to an aunt. 

mate and very strong attachment which had been 
cherished for her dear departed daughter, and 
which led her to press the request ; " you will be 
here, won't you ?" 

To an aunt who had never professed the re- 
ligion of Christ, who came in, the same evening, 
she said with difficulty, for it was difficult for her 
to speak at all, " I have wanted to talk with you, 
for a long time, dear aunt. You have been very 
kind to me, and I want to thank you for it. I 
don't expect to live but a little while ; and I 
want to know if you think you shall meet me in 
heaven ? Do you love God, aunt E. ?" and then, 
without waiting for an answer, she added ; — 
" how much I have thought of the comfort I 
should take with little Theodore, (a little child of 
her aunt, less than two years old,) in telling him 
about God, and in teaching him to love him ; but 
I never shall, now. Will not you, as soon as he 
is old enough, try to teach him to love God ? Do 
try to tell him in such a way, that he will UTider- 
stand, do be faithful to your dear children. 
I hope I shall meet you all in heaven." 

This is only the substance of what she said; 
but it was in such a way, and under such circum- 
stances, that all present were melted into tears. 

9* 



102 MEMOIR OF 

A peculiarity. 

It was very common for Charlotte, if she wished 
to address an individual on the subject of religion, 
and press duty upon them, to introduce it, where 
the circumstances would admit of it, as she did in 
this instance, by thanking them for their kindness^ 
&c. This was not the result of accident^ but of a 
knowledge of human nature, which led her to 
feel, that it would be better received, especially 
from a chiM^ if prefaced by an expression of, 
what was in reality, the gratitude of her heart, 
where the occasion for this existed. And the 
principle involved in the method which this child 
adopted, is one which might be profitably studied, 
and practiced by many who are older in the 
school of Christ, and who would be faithful to 
their dying fellow men. Much, very much de- 
pends on the manner in which the subject is intro- 
duced. This may be such, and doubtless often 
has been, as, not only to defeat the most benevo- 
lent design, at the time, but create a strong preju- 
dice against the subject in after life. This ought 
to be avoided, if possible. It is bad enough for 
the unsanctified heart to hate the truth, without 
having prejudice and hatred increased by an in- 
judicious TTUinner of presenting it to the mind. 
In the family worship this evening, as well as 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 103 

Family Worship. Singing. 

in the solemn and interesting communion services 
of the following day, it was the privilege of the 
compiler to participate. After the prayer in the 
family devotions of the evening, Charlotte ex- 
pressed to her mother her gratification in being 
able to " hear every word " of the prayer, which 
was not always the case, owing to some difficulty 
in hearing, which had often troubled her previous 
to this sickness. She then requested that her 
favorite hymn might be sung, which concludes 
with the following stanza : 

Jesus can make a dying bed 

Feel soft as downy pillows are, 
While on his breast I lean my head, 

And breathe my life out sweetly there. 

After the singing was concluded, in a whisper, 
she said to her mother, " there has not been a 
minute to-day in which I have not felt that I 
could breathe my life out sweetly in the bosom of 
my Saviour." 0, who would not covet the pos- 
session of such a state of feeling, when they come 
to lie upon a sick and dying bed ? And who, in 
view of it, would not be ready to exclaim, with 
Balaam, " Let me die the death of the righteous, 
and let my last end be like his ?" 



104 MEMOIR OF 

Examines the Confession of Faith, &c. 

On Sabbath morning, she requested that a 
printed copy of the Confession of Faith, and Cov- 
enant of the Church, which she knew was in the 
house, might be brought her, that she might see 
whether there was any thing in it, to which she 
could not conscientiously give her assent. Her 
mother proposed reading it to her, but C. declined, 
saying she had rather read it herself. It was 
accordingly given her, and she read it with much 
attention. After she had finished the reading, 
she was asked whether there was any thing in it, 
to which she could not give her assent. "0 no, 
said she. But it is so long since I have read it, 
that I did not know but there might be something, 
which I could not promise. On this account I 
wished to read it over beforehand and see." 

During the morning and forenoon, Charlotte 
appeared to be quite as comfortable as could be 
expected ; said but little, but that little was indi- 
cative of the deep interest with which she regard- 
ed the anticipated privilege of complying with the 
dying injunction of her Saviour, " This do in 
remembrance of me ;" and of the existence of a 
heavenly peace, which the world can neither give, 
nor take away. She evidently appeared, most of 
the time, to be engaged in prayer, the need of 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 105 

Subject proposed to the church. Vole. 

which, she most deeply felt ; and in a resort to 
which, she found nearness of access to the throne 
of grace, in a most emphatical manner. 

At the close of public worship in the forenoon, 
the Rev. Mr. Dennis stated the case of Charlotte, 
to the church ; her wish to be admitted as a mem- 
ber of the visible family of Christ, and to partake 
of the memorials of His sufferings and death, be- 
fore she was called to go hence ; assured them of 
his full conviction of her decided piety, and quali- 
fications for the reception of that ordinance, and 
that Christ would be honored, and her own com- 
fort and spiritual strength might be greatly pro- 
moted, by a compliance with her request. The 
vote of the church was then taken, and was unani- 
mous, to receive her as a member of that body, 
with the understanding that she was to give her 
assent to the Confession of Faith, and Covenant 
of the Church, at the time of the proposed meet- 
ing, for the administration of the ordinance of 
the supper to her. 

The pastor, then, in connection with the officers, 
and a number of members of the church, and 
many relatives and friends, repaired to the house 
of Dr. Hamilton, for the purpose of once uniting 
with this dear child, in commemorating the suffer- 



106 MEMOIR OF 

Meeting at Dr. Hamillon's. 



ings of her beloved Saviour, before she should go 
to be forever with him. It was a most interesting 
scene ; and to many hearts there, it seemed to be 
a privileged spot, 

'* — quite on the verge of heaven." 

Here were seated the parents, the grandparents, 
and a large circle of other relatives and friends 
around this dying bed, to witness this public, 
voluntary consecration of this child to God, and 
unite vnth her in this solemn ordinance, for the 
first and last time on earth. It was felt that the 
blessed Jesus did verify his precious promise on 
that occasion, " Wherever two or three are gath- 
ered together in my name, there am I in the 
midst of them." 

After the table was spread for this sacramental 
service, Charlotte remarked, " This is all that I 
have desired to see this day for ; and now, my 
friends, I hope you will be truly thankful." 

The Confession of Faith and Covenant of the 
Church were then read ; and at the close of each 
article, commencing with " You believe ;" or 
" You promise " so and so, Charlotte in a distinct 
but gentle whisper, responded, "Yes," "Yes," 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 107 



Administration of the Sacrament. 

while her bright black eye was fixed most intently 
on the lips of her pastor, to catch every word that 
was uttered. 

The administration of Ae sacrament then fol- 
lowed, during which, C. exhibited the same calm- 
ness and self-possession, for which she was so 
remarkable ; although there was not probably, 
another dry eye in the room. She had, for a long 
time been wholly unable to sit in her bed, without 
having her poor emaciated body and head sup- 
ported by some one. For weeks and months, her 
mother had devoted almost her whole time to her, 
usually sitting behind her in the bed, and sup- 
porting her head and body, to enable her to get 
any rest. This was her reclining position at this 
time ; with her head pillowed on that bosom on 
which it had reposed in infancy, and was to rest 
in her dying struggles; with a countenance of 
most unearthly loveliness ; lighted up, as it were, 
anew, by the beams which God was pouring into 
her happy soul ; she received the emblems of her 
Saviour's body, broken ; and of his blood, shed 
for sin, and thus sealed, publicly, her engage- 
ments to be his. 

This was the consummation of all her desires. 
For this, she had lived and prayed ; and now she 



108 MEMOIR OP 

Source of her strength. Favorite hymn. 

could say, as good old Simeon did, " Now lettest 
thou thy servant depart in peace, according to 
thy word." 

In the evening she ^was asked by her father 
how she could bear the exercises of the day, with 
so much firmness, when she was so very feeble ? 
The answer was, "01 have been praying to my 
heavenly father, during the day, for strength ; 
and he has heard me, and answered my prayer." 
Such was her habit of bringing all her wants to 
God ; and such the connection which she could 
generally perceive, between the discharge of the 
duty on her part, and the fulfillment of the prom- 
ise on the part of God, " Ask, and ye shall 
receive." 

" Now, 'ma, sing * Sweet Spirit attend me,' " 
said Charlotte, and the following was sung : 

Sweet Spirit attend me, till Jesus shall come, 
Protect and defend me, till I am call'd home ; 
Though worms my poor body may claim as their prey, 
'Twill outshine, when rising, the sun at noon-day. 
Farewell my dear brethren, my Lord bids me come, 
Farewell my dear sisters, I'm now going home ; 
Bright angels are whispering so sweet in my ear, 
Away to my Saviour my spirit they'll bear. 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 109 

Desires her mother to read the Bible. 



CHAPTER XII. 

On Tuesday, August 4tli, after a paroxysm of 
very severe sufifering, Charlotte said, " I am 
afraid I shall wear you all out, in taking care of 
me. But I am sure my poor body can't hold out, 
to suffer much longer. God is trying me by 
these pains, to see if my love is true ; he is try- 
ing my faith to see if it is strong. And I think 
I have a full assurance. 0, I would not give up 
what I now enjoy, with all my pain, for all the 
treasures in the world ; for life, and health, and 
strength, even if I were sure of enjoying them for 
many years to come. 0, there is nothing 

*' Like what in Christ I see.'* 



She then desired her mother to read in the 
Bible. She took it, and commenced reading the 
14th chapter of John. When she came to the 
13th verse, " And whatsoever ye shall ask in my 
name, that will I do ; " Charlotte said, " 
what a precious promise." 

10 



110 MEMOIR OF 

Prayer answered. Sufferings of Christ. 

" My child, do you feel assured that God has 
heard your prayer, in the name of Christ ? " 

"0, yes," said she, with a countenance of 
glowing interest, " He heard me just now, when I 
was in such distress. I asked him to give me a 
little ease, if it was best, if it could be for his 
glory, and he did it immediately, 0, I love to 
bear pain, because I know God does it, to try m}^ 
love, and see if it is true. I want he should try 
me, and prove me, for I have sinne^ against him. 
0, he will not forsake me. I have a full assur- 
ance that he will yet make me perfectly happy." 

" 0, how much I have thought [here she burst 
into tears] of our Saviour : just after he spoke 
these precious words to his disciples, which you 
were reading just now, 'ma ; he went away and 
suffered on the cross, — no friend followed him to 
pity him. He suffered as no human being ever 
suffered, or can suffer ; and 0, [here her sobs 
could not be suppressed] it was for our sins ; only 
think ! for such sinners as I am. And yet all this 
time I have been sinning against him ; but I have 
asked him to forgive me ; and he has, and will 
receive me." 

At this time, Miss P., who had been her school 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. Ill 

^.-...^^^^^^- ^^^-.^^^ ^. ^^^^ — L^^ ^^^ -.-.-^-. 

The teacher. Encouragonent to others. 



teacher, came into the room, and inquired, " are 
you liapjnj, Charlotte ? " 

She replied in the affirmative, and added, " I 
used to go to school to you, and if I ever did any 
thing to hurt your feelings, I hope you will for- 
give me." She was assured that she had not ; 
that she was always a good scholar. 

After Miss P. left the room, Charlotte re- 
marked : — " Miss P. was a lovely teacher. She 
tried very hard to make us good ; and I did not 
know but I had done something to hurt her feel- 
ings. It may be proper here to remark, that 
Charlotte frequently spoke of those, under. whose 
instruction she had been placed, at different 
periods, and always with emphatic approbation of 
those who had given religious instruction to their 
pupils, and to use her own simple language, who 
had " tried to make them good." 

This, my dear friends who are teachers, sug- 
gests a topic of interesting encouragement to you. 
However .thoughtless many of your pupils may 
appear to be, when you are giving them religious 
instruction, there may be some who will feel, and 
perhaps bless God on a dying bed, as well as 
thank you, for your fidelity, and be better pre'- 
pared for an early departure to their blissful and 



112 MEMOIR OF 

Singing of a hymn. 

eternal home. 0, be faithful, and you may meet 
some of them in heaven. 

For more than an hour, Charlotte continued to 
converse in the manner described above, until she 
became completely exhausted; and then nothing 
would seem to cheer and comfort her so much, as 
the singing of a hymn like the following — in 
which she took unusual satisfaction : — 

When languor and disease invade 

This trembling house of clay ; 
'Tis sweet to look beyond my pain, 

And long to fly away : — 

. Sweet to look inward, and attend 
The whispers of His love : 
Sweet to look upward to the place 
Where Jesus pleads above:— 

Sweet to look back, and see my name 

In life's fair book set down : 
Sweet to look forward and behold 

Eternal joys my own : — 

Sweet on His faithfulness to rest, 

Whose love can never end : 
Sweet on the covenant of his grace, 
"^ For all things to depend. 

Sweet in the confidence of faith. 

To trust his firm decrees ; 
Sweet to lie passive in his hands, 

And know no will but his. 



CHARLOTTE UAMILTON. 113 

The " fountain." Her appeal. 

If such the sweetness of the stream^ 

What must the fountain he ! 
Where saints and angels draw their bliss, 

Lord, direct from thee ! 

During the forenoon of the next day, Charlotte 
was very low, and unable to converse. In the 
afternoon she revived, and was in a very happy 
frame of mind, and conversed with those about 
her. Christ was her theme. Upon his grace she 
loved to dwell. Her father went to do something 
for her, to make her comfortable, when Charlotte 
said, " 0, why will you try so hard to keep me 
here ? You sit and look at me, and I suppose yoa 
love to ; but you would not want to look at me 
in a little while." She then held up her poor 
emaciated hand, and said, " this hand will soon, 
look all black ; and this body will moulder intO' 
dust. You think too much of this body. It is 
only this, that keeps me in sin. Let me drop this 
body, and I shall sin no more ; and I feel assured 
that Christ will receive me, for he has forgiven all 
my sins, and soon I shall be perfectly happy in 
the presence of my Saviour and my God." 

Her grandfather came, towards night, to see 
her. After he had conversed awhile respecting 
the happiness of the heavenly state, t^harlotte. 

10* 



114 MEMOIR OF 

A reverie— The beautiful city. 

remarked, " Grandpa, as I was lying here on my 
pillow, I thouglit I could see heaven. It may 
have been a dream, probably it was ; but my 
eyes were open. 0, what a beautiful place it 
seemed to be ! I thought if I could only get 
there, how happy I should be ! 1 shut my eyes, 
and it seemed as though I could see the beautiful 
city just as plain, as when they were open. It 
seemed then, as though I exerted all my powers 
to get there ; but could not get along very fast, 
on account of so many things in the way." 

" But what things seemed to be in the way ? " 
" 0, brush and briers," she replied. " At 
length I saw two, who looked like men, but I 
then supposed them to be angels, coming towards 
me, from the city. They looked very pleasantly, 
and offered to help me along, going on each side 
of me, and removing the difficulties out of the 
way. 0, grandpa, you can't tell how rejoiced I 
was to see this beautiful city, and because I had 
got almost there ! But I saw an iron gate that 
opened into it ; and I knew that when they had 
helped me to it, I must pass that all alo7ie» But 
this did not trouble me very much ; and I hurried 
on, exceedingly pleased, until I came to the gate. 
But I coTlid not get it ope:n ; and this so worried 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 116 

The " Iron gale.'* Explanation. 

and grieved me, that I roused up, and the scene 
which I had been viewing, all passed away." 

Charlotte repeated, that this might have been 
a dream, although her eyes were open. Htir 
grandfather told her that the " iron gate " was 
death ; and that God had not yet called her to 
pass it. At this moment a stranger entered the 
room, which prevented further conversation on 
the subject. 

The probability is, that Charlotte was about 
half way between sleeping and waking, at the 
time of the reverie described above. This suppo- 
sition is perfectly consistent with her opening and 
closing her eyes, and being able to distinguish 
objects as well with her eyes closed, as with them 
open; and also with the manner in which the 
scene vanished, by a strenuous effort on her part 
to open the " iron gate," which fully awoke her. 
But the incident shows the almost constant bent 
of her mind, and the subjects with which it seemed 
to be familiar, whether waking or sleeping. Her 
heart was emphatically in heaven, and her con- 
versation was there also. And she was ready for 
the change, and felt that she could, at any time, 

" Fly swiftly through death's iron gate, 
Nor f0el the terror as she passed." 



116 MEMOIR OF 

Appeal to her parents. 

In tke early part of the evening she was exer- 
cised with a great deal of pain ; but her mind 
was evidently staid on God. She remarked that 
with all her pain, she could rejoice, for Jesus was 
close by her. She asked her mother if she could 
not say with regard to her, " the will of the Lord 
be done ? " "I can," said she, '' with regard to 
myself and every thing else, say, * Thy will, O, 
God, be done.' " Now 'ma, I want you should say 
it — I want you should feel it^ and say it from the 
heart,'^^ 

Her father then came into the room, and she 
appealed to him, to know if he was not willing to 
let her go, at God's call ! That father's heart was 
too full to reply immediately. She then ad- 
dressed both her parents, and wished to know if 
they could not give her up, willingly ? "I lave 
you, dear father," said she, kissing him most 
affectionately : " dut I do love God more. I lave 
you, 'ma ; but I love God more ! And are you 
not willing that I should ? " 

In the evening, an uncle of hers, who did not 
profess religion, came in to see her, and asked her 
how she did. She replied that she did not expect 
to live long, but said she was happy. She then 
appealed to him, to know if he felt prepared to 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 117 

Address to an uncle. 

die. " You have always been kind to mc, and I 
love you, and thank you for it ; but I want to 
meet you in heaven ! 0, do prepare to die. Think 
of the privileges you now enj oy ; but you know 
not how long you may live to enjoy them. You 
know we read in the Bible, that the Son of man 
cometh in an hour when we think not of it ; and 
he may come so to you. He may call for you this 
very week ; it may be next week, we know not 
the time. But 0, if you are not prepared for a 
dying hour, how dreadful will be your condition ! 
Will you not begin to seek the Lord this very 
night ? " She paused for a moment, and then 
raised her eyes to her mother's who was support- 
ing her, and said, "0,1 loish he would promise ! " 
It is to be hoped that such appeals, and such 
preaching, will prove to be a savor of life unto 
life, rather than of death unto death ! 

She then requested them to sing a hymn, com- 
mencing with these words : 

Hark, my soul, — it is the Lord ! 
'Tis thy Saviour, hear his word. 
Jesus speaks, he speaks to thee ; 
Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me ? 

After this, while speaking of the happiness she 



118 MEMOIR OF 

Her mother's suggestion — effect on her. 

enjoyed, her mother remarked to her, that there 
were some persons, even in a Christian land, who 
did not even believe that there was any reality in 
religion, — any thing in it, to give comfort to a 
person in a dying hour. At this remark, Char- 
lotte burst into tears. As soon as she became 
sufficiently composed, she said, " Do you really 
believe, 'ma, that there are many persons who 
think so ? " 

" I hope not, my child ; and yet I am afraid 
there are." 

'' 0, then, do try to do them good. Tell them 
there is a reality in religion ; and they will find 
it so, when they come to lie on a dying bed. O, 
then, they will need the consolation which religion 
afi'ords." 

At this time an uncle of hers, from New York, 
came in; and her mother mentioned that C. had 
been weeping, because she had been told that 
there were probably some, who do not believe 
there is any thing in religion. 

" Why, Charlotte," said he, '' I live where 
there are thousands and tens of thousands who do 
not believe there is any hereafter ! At this dis- 
closure, she seemed perfectly astonished. She had 
hardly formed the conception that there coidd be 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 119 

Urges her uncle to faithfulness. 

any one, in a Christian land, that should disbe- 
lieve what the Bible teaches, in regard to the 
necessity of experimental godliness, or the reali- 
ties of a future state. 

She then urged her uncle to be faithful in 
trying to convince them of a truth which «s^as so 
clear to her, that they might be prepared for that 
coming state. " Do, uncle, be faithful. If you 
can say but a few words, perhaps they will think 
of them afterwards, and then they may do them 
good. Won't you try to be faithful ? " In this 
manner she pressed her entreaty, until she ob- 
tained a promise. Then, she seemed to feel 
relieved. 

After the family had retired for the night, and 
she had rested a little while, she broke out in 
singing the following : 

Jerusalem, my happy home, 

how I long for thee ! 
When will my sorrows have an end? 

Thy joys when shall I see ? 

The next day she was unable to speak aloud, 
and told her mother she should never be able to 
say much more to any of the family, and should 
soon leave her dear friends, and go to her Saviour. 



120 MEMOIR OP 

Death desired, — wailing, — cough. 

" 0, how happy I shall be when I come to go. 
But 1 hope j^ou will look to God for strength and 
comfort : and he will comfort you, and make you 
willing to have me go." 

She was not, however, so near her end, as she 
anticijpated, and her patience in waiting for her 
Lord, was tried for nearly three weeks longer, 
much beyond the expectations of any of her 
friends. Indeed they would not have been sur- 
prised, scarcely any day, if she had sunk into the 
arms of death. Her reason was perfect, during 
the whole of these weeks of suffering ; but she 
was, for most of the- time, wholly unable to con- 
verse. What she did say, was nearly all in a 
whisper ; and even this was interrupted by her 
almost incessant cough. The painfulness of this, 
cannot be conceived by any one, who did not see 
her. She was wasted to a mere skeleton; and 
there was scarcely strength enough in the muscles 
and sinews to keep the bones in her chest in their 
proper places. This made her racking cough, at 
nearly every breath, almost insupportable, and 
seemed to her, that it would dislocate every joint 
in her frame ! To remedy this, in a measure, a 
strengthening plaster was laid upon her stomach ; 
this afforded a degree of relief. She remarked 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 121 

A nieihoJ of Mief. Cheerful resignation. 

that it seemed to keep the bones in their places 
when she coughed ; and she suggested the idea of 
extending the plaster entirely round her chest, to 
help in keeping her frame together, as she repre- 
sented it ; which was done accordingly, much to 
her own relief. These circumstances are men- 
tioned simply to give the reader a more correct 
idea of the sufferings which this child was called 
to endure ; and that he may be prepared to place 
a more proper estimate upon the feelings and the 
spirit she evinced. 

When asked, at one time, if she did not some- 
times feel that she could not endure so much 
suffering much longer ; she replied, " It appears 
to me I can't live many days, and suffer what I 
do ; but I do not wish to think any thing about 
that. I know God will not make me live and 
suffer, any longer than he sees best for me." 

At another time, she requested her mother, if 
ske groaned or wept, on account of pain, to tell 
her of it, for said she, " I do not mean to com- 
plain. I know I do not feel like complaining. I 
know God will do right, and I am willing to live 
and suffer just as long as he sees best." 

One morning, as her mother was supporting 
her head, Charlotte spoke of the love of Christ, 



122 MEMOIR OF 

Death of Mrs. P. C's remark. 

and of the peace of mind which she was per- 
mitted to enjoy : and added, " much as I love 
you all, it cannot make me wish to get well. I 
had * rather depart and be with Christ, which is 
far better.' " 

Mrs. P., a near neighbor, died a few weeks before 
Charlotte. She was young, amiable, much be- 
loved, and had every thing to make life desirable ; 
but, during her protracted sickness, was never 
heard to express a wish to live ; but if it was 
God's will, chose to depart and be with her 
Saviour. 

It was in reference to these circumstances, that 
Charlotte made the following remark : " Since 
Mrs. P. died, I have heard some speak with sur- 
prise, that she should be so willing to die, when 
she had every thing to make her wish to live ; but 
I should have been more surprised if she had 
been willing to get well^ and come back again to 
the world, and be exposed to all its temptatious, 
and live in sin, as she knew she must, if she did 
get well." 

Subsequent to this, Charlotte was questioned 
with regard to her making a profession of religion, 
and was asked if she regretted it ? 

"■ 0, no, I am thankful that I was permitted to 



CUAKLOTTE HAMILTON. 123 

IVIore favorable symptoms. 



do SO ; and I enjoyed all that I ever antici- 
pated." 

She was asked, how sin appeared to her ? Her 
reply was, " it seems to me as if I wanted to get 
away from it." Two weeks before her death, for 
a day and a half, she appeared much more com- 
fortable. On Tuesday night of that week, her 
mother said to her, " you appear to feel much 
better. Don't you think you may yet get well? " 

Charlotte replied, " I don't think any thing 
about that ; although it don't look very likely 
that any body, poor and weak as I am, and with 
such a hard cough, can live very long." 

The next day she appeared still more comfort- 
able, and more so than she had done for several 
weeks. Her father told her, that, in the course 
of his practice, he had had two or three patients 
who seemed to be nearly as low as she appeared 
to be, who had recovered. Her mother then said, 
" Charlotte, I am almost inclined to think that 
you may yet get well." Charlotte looked dis- 
appointed, and said, " 'Ma, do you really think I 
shall get well ? " 

" Why, my child," said the mother, " are you 
not willing to live ? " 



124 , MEMOIR OF 

Her disappointment. Relapse. 

" If I knew I should live to do good ; but still 
it would not be my choice." She immediately 
added, " but why do I say so ? I have no will of 
my own. God's will is my will. I have said it 
before, and I can say it now." 

That night, about one o'clock, she was taken 
very ill. She wished to have her father called, 
and said to him, " You see I shall go, at last." 

From this time, she continued to grow weaker 
and weaker; and her dissolution was almost 
hourly expected. And she appeared ready and 
waiting for the event. She could take no food, 
and wished her mother to tell her friends and the 
neighbors not to send her any thing more, (having 
had something new, or rare, sent in to her, almost 
every day). She also wished her mother to thank 
them for all their kindness,— said she did not 
know why they thought of her so ofton,— she did 
not deserve it, and could do nothing for them in 
return ; but hoped God would reward them. 

Her cough grew still more distressing ; and she 
would sometimes say, *' how many days and nights 
God is trying my patience by keeping me here ; 
but he will do all right." Not one word of com- 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 125 

Tender sympathy. Wish in regard to her friends. 

plaint was ever heard, by any one, who ever 
assisted in taking care of her. 

Her love to her friends seemed to increase. 
With all her sufferings, she did not cease to feel 
for others ; and would often express the fear that 
they would all become sick, in taking care of her. 
She would very often thank her attendants, kiss 
them very affectionately, and say, she never should 
be able to do any thing for them. 

She could not bear the idea of her friends 
grieving for her, when she was gone; but fre- 
quently expressed the wish that they would con- 
nect the recollection of her, with something which 
would make them feel cheerful. She entreated 
her mothe^ never to wish her back; but think 
how short the time would be, before they should 
meet again, and then they should be so much 
happier than they ever could be here, because 
they would be where there will be no sin. 

" I feel sorry for Elizabeth," (her sister), she 

would say, " for she will be left alone. We have 

taken a great deal of comfort together in our 

chamber, and I love her ; but it can't make me 

wish to stay. She must take Arnold and Miranda 

into her chamber, and try to teach them to love 

God ; and they will be company for her. 0, 'ma, 
u* 



126 MEMOIR OF 

Suggestion. 

do try to learn little Miranda how to love Grod, 
while she is young. You can make her think 
about God, before she is old enough to love him. 
Take her out and show her the things which are 
growing, and tell her that nobody can make them 
grow, but God ; and she will learn to think about 
God, in this way." 



CUARLOTTB HAMILTON. 127 

Solemn subjecu not to be trifled with. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Chahlotte always felt very much grieved if any 
one exhibited any levity in relation to the subject 
of religion, or dying. This was witnessed several 
months before her death ; when a young man 
residing in the family, dropped some expression 
about dying, which indicated levity of feeling. 
Charlotte burst into tears, and said, " how can 
he feel so ?" 

A short time before she died, a girl, living in 
the family, spoke in a similar manner, respecting 
the same subject. Charlotte felt unable to say 
any thing to her about it, at the time ; but, with 
tears in her eyes, she made her mother promise 
that she would talk with her, after she was gone ; 
and try to make her feel how wicked it was. 

One of the hymns to which this child was 
greatly attached, and which she wished often to 
have sung to her, was the following : 

I -vrait a few sorrowful days.* 

And then I no longer shall mourn, 

But flee from the valley of tears, 
A way I shall never return : 



♦ Her mother, in singing, always substituted "days" for "years.' 



128 MEMOIR OF 

Hymn— her objection to the first line. 

My days are all vanished away, 
Broke off the designs of my heart ; 

No longer on earth I delay. 
Or linger, as loath to depart. 

My days are extinguished and gone, 

My time, as a shadow, is fled ; 
And gladly I lay myself down, 

To rest with the peaceable dead ; 
The dead ever-living attend, 

Whose dust is all safe in the tomb ; 
And many a glorified friend 

Is ready to welcome me home. 

After singing this, one evening, Charlotte said, 
" 'Ma, don't sing that any more, — I do not like to 
hear it." 

" Why, my child ; I thought you were very 
partial to it. Why do you dislike it ? " 

" Because the first line says, 

" I wait a few sorrowful days :" 

and they are not ' sorrowful^ 'ma ; they are hajp]^ 
days." 

The last conversation, of any considerable 
length, which she had with her mother, was a few 
days before her death. She wished her mother 
to shut the door of the apartment, and sit on the 
bed with her, so that she could support her 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 129 

Early feelings. Reason for referring to them. 

'' weary, aching head." She then told her mother 
that she had a great many things which she 
wished to say, but could not talk much. She 
then alluded to her feelings when she was quite 
young — as long ago as she could remember. She 
said she used to think she must be very good for 
the most part of the day, and then she could play, 
and do just what she pleased, the rest of the 
time ; and she would go to bed very well satisfied 
with herself, if she thought she had been good, 
and thought of God, more than half of the day. 
And after she was old enough to read, she said 
she used to spend a great deal of her time in 
looking the Bible over, to find some place where 
it would tell just what she must do to be a 
Christian. "0 'ma, how much I did want to 
ask questions. I used to think I would ask you, 
or 'pa, to explain things to me, which I did not 
understand. And when I came to you, I durst 
not ask the questions. The reason why I men- 
tion these things now, is, I thought Arnold, per- 
haps, might have the same feelings now, and little 
31iranda will have them, when she is older; and 
I want to have you give her an opportunity, and 
encourage her to ask you." 

She then added, " I shan't live but a little 



180 MEMOIR OF 

Anxiety to prevent her friends from grieving. 

while, and I have been talking to 'pa, to try to 
comfort him when I am gone. And now, 'ma, 
you won't be gloomy, when you think of me ; will 
you ? Bo always be happy when you think of 
me. You can think something like this — how 
much comfort we have had, (probably referring to 
what she had heard her mother say, respecting 
the comfort she had taken with her, the winter 
past,) and how happy we now are ; and I shall 
then be where there will be no sin, and be per- 
fectly happy in heaven. And I am sure 'ma, you 
can think with satisfaction that you have done 
every thing for me, which could be done. And 
when you visit my grave, don't weep, and feel as 
though I was there. It will be only my poor body 
that will be there — I shall be with my Saviour." 
—In this manner, did this child attempt, before- 
haiid^ to pour consolations into the wound, which 
she knew would be made in her parents' hearts, 
by her early removal ; and suggest happy topics 
of thought, which would render them cheerfully 
submissive, under such a trying dispensation of 
Providence. 

"My child," continued her mother, "are you 
not willing that we should visit your grave ? You 



CHARLOTTE nAMILTON. 131 

Burial of her little brother. Cough. 

used to love to go to the spot where your little 
infant brother lies." 

" I know it, 'ma. And how I felt when he 
was buried ! Don't you remember what I said, 
when he was buried, — that * he looked too pretty, 
to be put into the ground ? ' But I did not feel 
right. I did not consider, as I ought, that it 
was only the body, I do not feel so now." 

She afterwards, several times, expressed a great 
desire to talk ; but could speak scarcely a single 
word, without producing a paroxysm of coughing; 
and the utmost care became necessary to avoid 
moving any thing in the room, that would excite 
the least dust, on account of the extreme irrita- 
bility of her lungs. She said to her mother, 
shortly before she died, that all the pain she had 
endured, through her long sickness, had been 
nothing, compared with the distress produced by 
her coughing, and trying to raise ; and this con- 
tinued to the last. 

One day she remarked, with very great diffi- 
culty, " 0, 'ma, I have said but little to any of 
you, to what I wish to say." She was asked if 
she had any thing in particular which she wished 
to say ? "0 yes, a great many things." " Well, 
then, my child, do try to talk to me a little, once 
more." 



132 MEMOIR OF 

Important suggestion. 

" I have been thinking," said she, in a whisper, 
" that we are not apt to care much for those who, 
we think, don't love us. We do not pray for 
them, and try to do their souls good, as we do, 
for those who love us. I have thought that I 
could see this, in Christians. Now this, certainly, 
is not right. Christ says, " love your enemies ; 
bless them that curse you, do good to them that 
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully 
use you, and persecute you." — Here she began to 
cough, and could say no more. Afterward, she 
requested her mother to think of it, and tell her 
father and sister, — said she regretted that she had 
not tried to dd more good when she was well. 

Had the principle involved, and the duty urged, 
in the preceding paragraph, been presented, and 
pressed by an adult Christian, or by a minister of 
the gospel, on a dying bed; the circumstance 
would not have excited any special surprise. 
Every one would have said, the suggestion was 
important and needed. But here is a mere chUd^ 
of o\Aj ten years of age, in the midst of extreme 
sufferings, Njust ready to sink into the arms of 
death, with no uncommon means of religious in- 
struction, drawing out one of the most important 
distinguishing principles of the religion of Jesus, 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 133 

A distinguishing principle of religion. 

and pressing its obligation upon those around 
her ! Her heart was full of the subject ; and she 
felt that she could not die, till she had unbur- 
dened her feelings. Young as she was, she had 
seen that the principle which Christ had laid 
down, as the distinguishing mark of his religion, 
did not always operate where it should, viz. : 
That we should love^ and try to do good to those 
who do Thot love us. Hear Christ himself, saying, 
'* If ye love them [only] that love you, what 
thank have ye ?'* " What do ye more than oth- 
ers ?" Is it not a perfectly selfish principle ? 
Do not even the pid)licans so ? — the very vilest, 
and most mercenary of men? But those who 
would be like Christ must be actuated by a new 
and nobler principle ; they must lave their ene- 
mies ; and endeavor to do them all the good in 
their power. This was the duty which this dying 
child attempted to press. that there were less 
occasion to press it. If Christ employs "young 
children " just ready to be embraced by him in 
heaven, to preach on such themes of everlasting 
truth and duty, will they not rise in the judgment 
to condemn us aZZ, if we suffer the message to pass 
unheeded by ? 

The incident narrated above, illustrates, not 

12 



134 MEMOIR OP 

Clearness, vigor of mind, and sympatliy sliown. 

only a prominent characteristic of Charlotte's 
mind, viz. : the habit of observation and compari- 
son ; but also the fact that, wasted and feeble, as 
was her body, her mind retained all its accus- 
tomed clearness and energy, and seemed to be 
renewing its vigor, while the outer man was 
decaying day by day. 

Her grandfather, whose favorite she had always 
been, frequently came to see her. She expressed 
a great deal of gratitude for all his kind at- 
tentions, and favors, and sympathy ; said she 
was afraid her grandmother, who staid by her for 
weeks, would become sick, unless she went home 
and rested. There was no time when she seemed 
more tenderly alive to the feelings or the neces- 
sities of others, than she did in her last days ; 
and she frequently expressed her fears that she 
should wear her friends all out, in taking care 
of her. 

She was asked, one day, if she was able to 
collect her thoughts, so as to pray every day? 
" yes," said she; " and some days I am able, 
without interruption, to ask God for every thing 
I want, and say all I wish, and pray for every 
body." 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 135 

Former and present feelings. 

" And do jou always feel," asked her mother, 
*' that God does hear and answer your prayers?" 

" There was a time, before I was sick, that I 
did not think so much about the presence of God, 
when I prayed. But it has been a great while, 
since I have prayed in that way. It always 
seems, noio, 'ma, as if God was close by me when 
I pray, and he seems to tell me what to say." 

At another time, she requested her mother to 
sing her favorite hymn, beginning with 

Why should we start and fear to die ? 
"What timorous worms we mortals are ! 

After singing the hymn through, she said, *' 0, 
I could fly through death's iron gate, and feel no 
terror I" 

She then expressed the wish to be raised up in 
the bed, and take the book, which contained the 
hymn. When this wish had been gratified, she 
called for a pencil. My child, said the mother, 
'' you cannot use a pencil ! What do you want 
one for ?" 

" I want," said she, with a countenance beam- 
ing with the joy and heavenly peace which reign- 
ed within, " I want to alter that first line, 'ma. 
Instead of 

* Jesus can make a dying bed,' 



136 MEMOIR OF 

Wishes to alter a favorite hymn. 

I wish you would write 

' Jesus has made my dying bed 
Feel soft as downy pillows are.' " 

As her end drew near, her suffering increased. 
One morning, as her mother went to her bed-side, 
Charlotte raised her eyes, with a most imploring 
look, and said, " when will Jesus come and 
take me home ?" 

*' You feel, my child, as though you could not 
endure much more, do you not ?" 

" no, 'ma ; I feel as though He would not 
let this poor body suffer a great while longer." 
On Monday night, she said very pleasantly, " It 
does seem to me that there must be a little rest 
for me to-night." But in this anticipation she 
was mistaken. There was . no . rest for her hody^ 
although her soul was in the enjoyment of perfect 
peace. Her cough was almost incessant, .and 
seemed more than her poor frame could endure. 

On Tuesday morning, her little brother came 
in, and inquired if he should go to school. Char- 
lotte spoke, and said, " I shan't see you another 
day. A." Her sister brought in some fruit ; she 
shook her head, and said, " I have done with 
every thing in this world." • 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 137 

The thrush on her tongue. Wishes to talk. 

During this day, she succeeded in running out 
her swollen tongue a little, and pointing her 
mother to the thrush upon it, said, with a smile, 
*< I shan't be here long, now, 'ma." 

On Tuesday night, she continued very restless 
through the night ; coughed at almost every 
breath ; and it appeared evident that the scene of 
suffering would soon draw to a close. 

On Wednesday morning, she expressed a great 
anxiety to talk. Her mother replied, " you have 
said a great deal to all of us ; you have told us 
how happy you are, and given us many exhorta- 
tions. Now, do you wish to alter any thing 
which you have said ?" 

" noy NO, 'ma, but I want to say a great deal 
more!" 

Do you feel as you have done ? and would you 
not say the same things to us again ? 

" yes, 'ma, but — how I wish I could talk." 
But her mouth was so filled with thrush, that this 
was impracticable. 

The agonizing struggles of death soon came on. 
And th^y were ^' agonizing ^^ beyond the power 
of description. For more than four hours, her 
involuntary death-groans could be heard at al- 
most every breath, in all the lower rooms. But 

12* 



138 MEMOIR OF 

Agonizing struggles of death. 

these were the sufferings of the body only; — 
although, from their intensity, it was feared, by 
her friends, that she might be suffering under the 
hiding of her Saviour's face ; and the question 
was asked her, " Is Jesus with you ?" She 
bowed her head and said, indistinctly, "Yes." 
Afterward she was again asked, *' Has Christ 
forsaken you ?" She shook her head, and articu- 
lated "7Z0, no!" This was rich, precious conso- 
lation to her dear friends, who could bear almost 
any thing, rather than that her sun should now 
set under a cloud! At this time, her grand- 
mother, in relation to these agonizing struggles, 
remarked, '^this is death.''^ "Yes," said the 
father of Charlotte, " this my dear daughter, is 
DEATH." She, perfectly sensible of what was said, 
but unable to articulate, nodded her head in 
token of her perfect consciousness of the fact, 
that she was dying. 

Her mother said to her, " My child, we can go 
with you as far as the ' gate,' but we cannot go 
any farther ; yet your Saviour can go in with you 
before the king, — he wiU do it." Charlotte nod- 
ded her head, with a smile, in assent to this 
expression of assurance. 

During these hours of dying anguish, her sight 



CUARLOTTE HAMILTON. 139 

Recognizes her friends. Calls her brother. 



failed her, and then returned, two or three times. 
This was noticed by her father, and others around 
her, at a single glance at the pupil of the eye. 
And in the scenes that followed, her voice was 
stronger than it had been for some time, and as 
clear as the thrush in the mouth would admit. 

A little after, she was asked if she knew all 
those around her bed. She looked round with 
an earnestness which none who witnessed it will 
forget, and replied, " Yes." She then added, 
'* We must all die, I — now!" She then called, 
" Arnold, Arnold," (the name of her little brother) 
as was supposed, for the purpose of being sure 
that he was present ; and wishing, perhaps, to say 
i^omething to impress his mind, but she was 
unable. She afterward said to her mother, " take 
good care of Miranda ;" her little infant sister, 
for whose early religious training she had pre- 
viously expressed so much solicitude ; and which 
she does not now forget in her dying struggles. 

A little past 12 o'clock, M., her distress seemed 
to leave her in a great measure. Perfectly con- 
scious of her situation, she said, ^' I am dying?" 
She then looked round upon all those about her, 
as if taking her last glance ; and soon raising her 
eyes to her mother, who was supporting her in 



140 MEMOIR OF 

Dying farewell to all. Breath ceases while in prayer. 

the bed, she said, *' I am going, — farewell dear 
mother." Then reaching out her hand, *' Fare- 
well, dear father, I thank you;" and to all 
the other friends who stood around, she said, 
" Farewell — farewell ; — Loye God, — Prepare to 
DIE. Farewell, dear minister, I thank you for all 
you have done for me. Good-bye, 'ma, — I'm 
going ; — good-bye ; — I'm ready now." " Yes, 
my child," said the mother, " you are ready ; 
and I rejoice to give you up." The dying child 
continued, — " Lay my head down, — good-bye." 
Then lifting her clasped hands to her breast, in 
the attitude of supplication, and raising her eyes 
towards heaven, as she closed them on time, while 
her lips were moving in the open communion of 
her soul with God, a heavenly smile came over 
her countenance, which spoke more joy than words 
could have uttered, and continued, until without 
a struggle, her breath ceased, and her happy, 
ransomed spirit, took its departure from the 
body, to dwell in the sun-light of that Saviour's 
countenance, whom, on earth, she loved so much, 
and whose presence and glory she had so long 
panted to enjoy ! 

The following stanza, of a favorite hymn of 
hers, could not have been more appropriate, had 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 141 

Funeral services. 

it been designed to describe this very closing 
scene : — 

I'm going, — I'm going, but what do I see ? 
'Tis Jesus in glory appears unto me ! 
Tm going, — I'm going, — I'm going, — I'm gone ! 
glory, — glory, — 'tis done, — it is done ! 

Thus closed the early mortal course of Char- 
lotte Hamilton, on the 26th day of August, 
1835, aged 10 years, 1 month, and 19 days. 

The funeral services were attended on the fol- 
lowing Friday, and an appropriate sermon was 
preached by the pastor, entitled " The Child 
Safe," from these words ; "Is it well with the 
child ? And she answered, it is well ;" 2 Kings 
4 : 26. After illustrating the single question, 
" When may it be said to be well with a child ?" 
the preacher gave a rapid view of the character 
of this child, in which were included a specifica- 
tion of several of the facts and incidents detailed 
in the previous pages. A large audience testified, 
by their tears, the deep interest which they felt 
in the subject, and the occasion ; and, at the con- 
clusion of these exercises, a very large and inter- 
esting procession of Sabbath school scholars pre- 
ceded the remains to the *' New Tomb'* of Dr. 



142 MEMOIR OF 

Laid in the tomb. 

Horatio Arnold Hamilton, the grandfather of the 
deceased, " Wherein never man before was laid ;" 
to rest there until the morning of the resurrec- 
tion. 

" So fair, so young, so gentle, so sincere, 
So loved, so early lost, may claim a tear. 
Yet mourn not, if the life resumed by heaven 
Was spent to every end for which 'twas given ; 
The part assigned, if she essay'd to fill, 
If she obeyed her heavenly Father's will, 
If humble trust in her Kedeemer's love 
Matured her early for the courts above, 
Could she too soon escape a world of sin ? 
Or could celestial bliss too soon begin ? 
Then cease her death too fondly to deplore ; 
What could the longest life have added more ?'* 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 143 

Practical remarks. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

CONCLUSION. 

A FEW brief practical remarks will now conclude 
the volume. 

1. We have in this brief memoir, a striking 
illustration of the reality and the power of experi- 
mental godliness. That this child really had 
this in possession, few, who read the preceding 
detail of facts, can doubt. Now, I wish to ask, 
whether there is any thing else that will produce 
such blessed effects ? — -any thing which is adapted 
to produce, not only such cheerful submission, but 
such a degree of true enjoyment, under the very 
extreme of bodily sufferings, and in the near pros- 
pect of death ? 

I ask the individual who either denies or 
doubts the truth of Christianity — the infidel, 
whether there is any thing in his cold, heartless 
system of unbelief, whichvwill produce such hap- 
piness, under such circumstances ? Show us one 
instance, not of insensibility and indifference, but 



144 MEMOIR OF 

Nothing but religion can produce such effects. 

of such triumph over suiFering and death. It 
cannot be done. You might just as rationally 
look for grapes on thorns, and figs on thistles ! 
There is nothing but the religion of Jesus Christ 
that will produce such effects. And this is adapt- 
ed equally to all classes and conditions of man- 
kind ; to the learned and the ignorant ; the rich 
and the poor ; the aged and the young. 

In the case before us, we see how a mere child 
can exemplify the existence and power of this 
religion. This was not owing to the force of edu- 
cation. This, without piety, will never produce 
such results. But the fact was, most of her 
religious knowledge was derived directly from 
the prayerful study of the Bible, with no other 
teacher than the Holy Spirit. It is true that she 
received religious instruction from her parents and 
others ; and that this instruction was greatly 
blessed to her own spiritual advantage ; but it is 
also true, that her acquaintance with the prirwi- 
pies of Christian truth and duty, as evinced in 
her last sickness, was far more extensive, as well 
as more minute, than her nearest friends had ever 
attempted to communicate. This was often felt 
by them, as they were surprised, delighted, and 
instructed by her admonitions, inquiries, and re- 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 145 

Importance of early conversions. 

plies, on a great variety of topics. The Bible 
had long been her delightful study. This was 
the fountai7i to which she loved daily to resort; 
and there, she gave evidence that she drank deep. 
And rich and precious were the consolations 
which her piety, thus formed and maintained, 
afforded her, in scenes of distress and anguish. 
There was a strength of assurance, not only of 
being in a pardoned state, but of the fulfillment 
of the precious promise of the Saviour, that he 
would never leave her nor forsake her^ which 
many waters could not quench, nor floods drown. 
She felt that her feet were on " the rock of ages," 
which would never fail her. It is not known 
that this confidence was shaken, for one moment, 
during nearly the whole of her protracted and 
distressing sickness, to her dying moment, 
that there was more such piety in the Christian 
church. 

2. Another point to which I wish to call special 
attention is, the importance of early conversions. 

This subject is beginning, already, to excite 
much more interest than it did formerly. And 
as the result of this interest, and a corresponding 
efi'ort to secure this object, many more, from the 
ranks of early childhood, are brought into thq 

13 



146 MEMOIR OF 

Necessity of more interest on this subject. 

kingdom of Christ, than were witnessed a few 
years ago. And the number will be increased as 
the subject shall become more generally, and 
better understood. Having discussed this subject 
more at large, in a volume"^ which will, probably, 
soon be before the public, the compiler in this 
place will only remark briefly, that a much deeper 
interest must be awakened among all who have 
any thing to do in the religious training and 
instruction of the young. Their early conversion 
should be the great object of the direct personal 
efforts of every Christian, and the subject of un- 
ceasing prayer. It is altogether too late to doubt 
the practicability of the thing. This memoir, and 
a multitude beside, demonstrate the fact. It has 
already been remarked, that the unusual religious 
interest, which might be denominated a little 
revival, during the progress of which, Charlotte 
hopefully submitted her heart to God, was entire- 
ly confined to children, as it respects the hopeful 
conversion of individuals. It was at a time, too, 
when the church, as a body, were in a low state of 
religious declension. But there were individuals 



* Entitled " Conversion of Infants ; practicable and ini- 
portant" 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 147 

Interesting spectacle. 

who felt deeply in relation to the spiritual and 
immortal interests of their dear children, and 
who agonized in prayer for their salvation. And 
God heard and answered their prayers, and blessed 
their efforts, in bringing a goodly number, from 
the deep feeling of renewed hearts, to sing, " Ho- 
sanna to the Son of David." And had this spiri 
of prayer been exteyided in the church, and cor- 
responding efforts made, no one can tell how far 
God would have gone, in gathering other precious 
lambs into the fold of Christ. What a spectacle 
would the conversion of one hundred and fifty 
children have presented, — only about one half the 
number in the Sabbath school in Somers? 
how it would have preached to the consciences 
of aged and middle-aged sinners ! And such 
scenes of thrilling interest, and heavenly joy, may 
yet be witnessed among children ! All that is 
needed, with the blessing of God, is, more faith, 
more prayer, and more direct and appropriate 
effort to promote the object. The immediate con- 
version of children does not sufficiently charac- 
terize the feeling and desires of the Christian 
community in what is done for the spiritual wel- 
fare of the young. Few, very few of the sermons 
which are preached, are adapted to the capa/:ities 



148 MEMOIR OF 

Present conversion —the great object of effort. 

of the young, — and yet a sermon which a child 
could understand, would be likely to be produc- 
tive of more good to the adult part of the congre- 
gation, than one of a different description. 

When, with the unquenchable desire for their 
present conversion^ every minister. Sabbath school 
teacher, and parent, shall press truth upon the 
understanding and conscience of children, just as 
they would, if they supposed it might be their last 
opportunity of doing good; with the attending 
influences of God's Spirit, what multitudes from 
among the young might be seen pressing into the 
kingdom of God ! 

Among those children (twelve in number) who 
have been admitted to the church, as fruits of 
that little season of precious reviving, in which 
Charlotte shared, the compiler has been assured 
that there has been as much of the consistency of 
piety, as is ordinarily exhibited among an equal 
number of adults. And if it were proper in this 
place to spread out their feelings and exercises 
while under the strivings of God's Spirit, before 
their hopeful submission to Him, as the compiler 
has the materials in his possession for doing, in 
relation to some of them, it would be clearly seen 
that a genuine work of grace upon the heart of the 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 149 

Address to parents. 

child, and an adult, presents the same general 
characteristics ; and the evidence of its genuine- 
ness may be as clear in one case as in the other. 
But we have already exceeded the limits which 
we designed for the volume ; and can therefore 
only add, in this place, the expression of the hope, 
that the present volume may be the means of lead- 
ing all who read it, to feel the great importance of 
the early conversion of the rising generation, and 
to labor for it, in the use of all appropriate 
means. Then, how many of them might be pre- 
pared for the same early and blissful termination 
of their sins and sorrows here, which marked the 
subject of this memoir ; and be admitted to the 
purity and blessedness of heaven ! 

3. The preceding detail of interesting and 
affecting incidents, must make a powerful appeal 
to the hearts o^ parents. 

You love your children, — profess to regard 
them as only lent blessings, to be returned when 
God shall see fit to call them away; and you 
know not how soon this may be. Are you pre- 
pared for the parting scene ? 

Remember that they have commenced an exist- 
ence which will never end; and that for this, 
under God, they are indebted to you; and that 

13* 



150 MEMOIR OF 

Painful conviction at the judgment. 

whether their future existence shall be one of joy 
or sorrow, will very much depend upon you. In 
a little time, if you are spared, they may be taken 
from you. And what must be your feelings, if, 
when standing by their dying bed, you cannot 
feel that they give any evidence of having made 
their peace with God ? Especially, if there is to 
be connected with this, the consciousness that it 
may be owing to the fact of your unfaithfulness in 
the discharge of duty ? If you would avoid hav- 
ing such a conviction forced upon your mind, 
under such circumstances, resolve, in God's name, 
and God's strength, that you will aim to secure 
the early conversion of your children. Nothing 
less than this should satisfy you. 

Parents, and mothers especially, are furnished 
with abundant encouragement for the faithful, 
persevering discharge of duty, in other facts which 
might be related respecting the conversations of 
the subject of this memoir. She frequently re- 
ferred her mother, on her dying bed, to things 
which she had said to her, when very young, in 
attempting to give her religious instruction. And 
often a deep impression was made, which lasted 
for some time. In referring to those scenes, 
Charlotte would sometimes say, " I used to feel 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 151 

Encouragement to others. 

sorry for you, 'ma, for I know you must think I 
was very much hardened, because I did not appear 
to feel any more, when you used to talk, and pray 
with me, when I went to bed. But I did feel 
more, than you thought I did ; and sometimes I 
wept, and could not go to sleep for a good while, 
after you had left the room." At other times she 
would say, " 'Ma, you did not use to ask for the 
things of this world, for me; but only that I 
might have an interest in Christ." 

These incidents are mentioned in this place, my 
dear friends, for the purpose of connecting with 
them, the suggestion, that your dear children may 
thank you, on a dying bed, for that very faithful- 
ness which you, at the time, may suppose is 
expended without producing any salutary effect. 

Though seed lie buried long in dust, 

It shan't deceive the hope ; 
The precious grain will not be lost, 

If grace insures the crop. 

Nothing can be accomplished without this 
" GRACE." Paul may plant, and Apollos water, 
but God must give the increase. But this im- 
portant truth gives no countenance to the neglect, 
or negligent performance of duty. God may, now, 



152 MEMOIR OP 

Appeal to parents. 

be ready to bless your efforts and prayers for the 
conversion of your children, if made in a proper 
manner. I address myself specially to mothers, 
on account of the peculiar facilities they have, for 
gaining the confidence, interesting the feelings, 
and reaching the conscience and heart of the little 
ones around them. 

Let me ask, then, my friends, if you have no 
dear children, still unreconciled to God ? And if 
you have, let me still ask, whether that unrecon- 
ciliation may not be owing to your own unfaith- 
fulness or neglect? I ask this question with 
feelings of the utmost kindness. Give to it a 
moment's serious and prayerful consideration. 
And I would put the question, in full view of the 
important truth already cited, our entire depend- 
ence on God for sziccess, in laboring for the con- 
version of sinners. 

You may be ready to reply, as multitudes have 
done, ' The great reason why my children are still 
impenitent, is undoubtedly owing to the fact, that 
God has not seen fit to grant that measure of influ- 
ence which is necessary to subdue their hearts, 
and make them Christians." 

Of the truth of this, I have no doubt. But the 
question may still be asked, with perfect rever- 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 153 

More faith in prayer needed. 

ence and propriety, why may God have regarded 
it unfit to grant that amount of influence ? This 
comes to the point. And let me say, the reason 
may be, that you have not been faithful. Had you 
discharged your duties to your children and to 
your God faithfully, it may be, that He would 
already have poured out his Spirit, and brought 
all your dear children into reconciliation with 
himself! And if it be so, you are the great obstacle 
in the way of God's granting that influence which 
is necessary to convert your children ! 

You may have prayed earnestly for the divine 
blessing, but you are aware that this may have 
been done in a wrong manner, or with a wrong 
spirit ; and this may have prevented the blessing. 
*' Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, ''^ 
This is the very reason why God, in, perhaps, 
innumerable instances, does not answer the prayers 
of his people. And if you fail on this point, you 
fail altogether. God " will be inquired of," by 
his people, for the blessings which they need ; and 
if they will not comply with this demand, they 
have reason to expect that all their other efibrts 
will be fruitless. 

Beside, if you " ask amiss," this very defect 
may characterize the matter and manner of your 



154 MEMOIR OP 

Practicability of immediate conversion. 

instructions, and all your efforts to bring your 
children to Christ. 

Suppose, for a moment, that you have been 
selfish in your * efforts ' for the conversion of your 
children. It may have been because they were 
yaar children, or because they will cause you less 
trouble^ and afford you more comfort^ if Christians, 
than if not. If such feelings characterize your 
efforts, they will, of course, characterize your 
prayers ; and you need not be told that such 
' asking ' would be ' asking amiss.' 

Or you may have labored and prayed without 
any just sense of the importance and practicability 
of their immediate conversion. If you have not 
deeply felt the importance of this, you need not 
wonder that your children are thoughtless and 
indifferent in regard to the interests of their souls. 
You have given them instruction, hoping, that at 
some indefinite future period, it might do them 
good; and the same indefiniteness has marked 
your prayers ; — ' that at some future period God 
would interpose, and convert and save them I ' 
Perhaps you may have added the request, that 
God would do it, " in his own good time." 

O how must God look upon such feelings and 
prayers, when you know these very children are 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 155 

Exhortation to parental fidelity. 

already on the brink of woe ; and he has told you 
that you 'know not what an hour may bring 
forth ! ' Will He excuse such indefiniteness ? 
Can you expect any thing less than his frown ? 
This is not agonizing in prayer for souls ; — it is 
not ' travailing in birth,' until Christ is formed 
in them. And, under such circumstances, have 
you had any reason to expect their early conver- 
sion ? 

I might specify other circumstances relative to 
your life and conduct, which exert not only an 
immediate unfavorable influence on their minds, 
but which render it inconsistent with God to do 
any thing more towards converting your children. 
But my limits forbid enlarging on this point. 
Permit me, however, to ask you, my dear friends, 
to examine this subject anew^ and see whether 
you have good reason to feel that you can go to 
the judgment with no blood on your skirts, if 
your children should not be gathered with the 
lambs of Christ ? 

To conclude, then, let me urge all who are 
PARENTS to fidelity. Take the Bible for your 
guide ; endeavor to feel your responsibilities to 
God, for the faithful discharge of your duty to 
the little immortals committed to your care ; and 



156 MEMOIR OF 

Presentation of poetry. 

may God, in his infinite mercy, grant that you 
may yet have occasion to rejoice here, over all 
your children, as the subjects of renewing^ grace ; 
— and be prepared with them all, finally and 
eternally, to swell the notes of redeeming love, 
and pardoning grace, on the heavenly hills of 
Zion ! 



The following stanzas were written and pre- 
sented to Charlotte the evening after she was 
admitted to the church, by the author of these 
Memoirs. He was present at the time, and as- 
sisted in the exercises, and soon after wrote them 
in haste, with no expectation that they would be 
published. Charlotte was very much pleased with 
them, and said they expressed her feelings. 

The Eev. Ambrose Edson, the author of these 
Memoirs, whose health had been so feeble for 
years, as to make it necessary for him to discon- 
tinue preaching, died August 17th, 1836, a little 
less than one year from the time of Charlotte's 
death. The same blessed hopes and consolations 
which she enjoyed, were his. They died in the 
same room, — their mortal remains were committed 



CHARLOTTE HAMILTON. 157 

Poetry. 

to the same tomb, and their emancipated spirits 
have doubtless arrived at the same happy home. 
" Blessed are the dead which die in the LordJ^ 

I've often seen a beauteons bird 
Held captive, sing its mournful lay ; 

Its look was sad, its struggles hard 
To get released and mount away. 

And when it thought the hand was nigh 

To ope its little prison door, 
Its eyes grew bright, its joys rose high. 

It plumM its wings aloft to soar. 

Again I looked, and saw a friend. 
Who long supplied with ready zeal 

Its food and drink ; and would defend 
Its little life from every ill. 

That friend so lov'd his little charge, 
Its plumage gay, and music sweet, 

That he would hardly now discharge 
The prisoner from its lone retreat. 

What cruel kindness, — selfish love, — 
To hold that captive longer there ! 

No — let him mount and sing above, 
And breathe a purer, freer air. 

My soul is like that captive thing, 

Imprison'd in a house of clay ; 
It pants to be releas'd and spring 

To endless joys and endless day. 
14 



158 MEMOIR. 

Poetry. 

I've tasted of my Saviour's love, 
His broken flesh and flowing blood, 

Pour'd out to bring my soul above, 
And reconcile me to my God. 

" Do this," said he ; and I've. complied, 
And now I long his face to see ; 

And bathe in his o'erflowing tide 
Of life, and love eternally. 

My precious friends, I hope no more. 

You'll wish my captive soul to stay ; 
When Jesus opes my prison door, 

let me mount and soar away. 

I love you much, — I'll love you long, 
Where sin can ne'er my peace destroy ; 

And join you in the blissful song 
Of higher than seraphic joy. 

From entering on that bliss above, 

1 know you would not hold me here ; 
No, let me mount and sing, and love, 

And God shall wipe the parting tear. 



159 

Kindness. 



"BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER." 

Some years ago I passed a few weeks with a 
friend, in a village near one of our large eastern 
cities. One day three little girls from the city, 
Eliza, Annie and Lizzie, with their father, made 
my friend a visit. These little girls were dressed 
in deep mourning for their mother, who had died 
a few months before ; nor was this their only 
afiSiction, for the health of their father, to whom 
they seemed much attached, was very feeble. 
He had been suffering from a painful disease for 
a year or two, and had not been able to attend 
much to business, and in consequence was quite 
poor ; but they were rich in love to each other, 
and this made them happy. After dinner Eliza 
and Annie sewed for our friend, Mrs. S., till the 
neat of the day was over, and then we all walked 
in the garden and fields, and enjoyed the fresh 
air, the flowers, the green grass, and the joys of 
the country. During the whole afternoon, I no- 



160 THE KIND SISTERS. 

Kindness. 

ticed and was delighted with their kind and gen- 
tle behavior to each other. When a request was 
to be made, or a question asked, the " dear 
father," or " dear sister," with which it was pre- 
faced, seemed sincere. 

As they were going away, Mrs. S. asked one of 
them to stay till the next day. Either of them 
would have been glad to do so, but each tried to 
persuade the other to stay. At last it was con- 
cluded that Annie should remain, and as I was 
with her a good deal, we became quite acquainted. 
I thought by her actions and conversation that she 
had given her heart to the Saviour, and was try- 
ing to please him. She talked about her mother, 
told me how good and kind she was, and that on 
the Sabbath she always took her children into her 
room, and there they studied the Bible together, 
and learned to love it. 

I saw them several times after I returned home ; 
and their conduct towards each other was always 
the same. They were trying to relieve and com- 
fort their father, and his sorrows were much 
soothed by their kind and aflfectionate care. " Dear 
children," I could hardly help exclaiming, when 
I was with them, " oh, that all knew how much 
happier a family is, where love prevails." 



THE KIND SISTERS. 161 

Kindness. 

After a while, Annie was taken sick. She grew 
worse rapidly, and the physician said she could 
not live. But she loved the Saviour, and the 
thought of going to be with him made her happy, 
and willing to die. 

The last time I went to see them, I found little 
Annie and her father both confined to their bed. 
She seemed to be asleep, or in a kind of lethargy, 
but her father spoke to me and said, " We have 
almost gone." 

" Yes," I said, " and what will the poor girls 
do, when you are gone ? " 

" 0," replied he cheerfully, " I am not going 
to take their Father away. God will take care 
of them, though I am gone. He has provided for 
them now. Annie is going home, dear child; 
a kind friend will take Elizabeth, and bring her 
up as her own child. I pray that she may not be 
too indulgent, but will teach her to love God and 
do good while she lives. Eliza has been a good 
child. A short time ago I had the pleasure of 
seeing her unite with the church. She is, I trust, 
a lamb of Christ's fold, and in the good Shep- 
herd's care she is safe from all harm. We shall 
be separated but a little while, and then may we 
all meet, to part no more for ever." 

15 



162 THE KIND SISTERS. 

Kindness. 

I saw them no more. In two or three days the 
father and daughter were laid in the same grave; 
and Eliza and Lizzie were orphans. 

Do you not think these orphan sisters were 
much happier than they would have been if they 
had been disobedient to their parents, and unkind 
to those dear ones who had gone ? Must it not 
have been a consolation to think that they had 
tried to make each other happy? Then, dear 
children, follow their example. Try to make all 
around you happy, by loving them and denying 
yourselves for their comfort. In this way you 
will be happier yourselves, and will obey the pre- 
cept of the Bible, " Be ye kind one to another." 




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